South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1888-05-11
GENERAL Il. j. JACKSON.

AN ELEGY.
Six DAYS our hearts stood still with keen sus
Our champion Jay sore smitten OF Gods hand
The seventhj our hope was slain, for he was
dead
Our prayers we've vain and now our palsied
SENSE
Knows not our grief to utter. Weep, o landl
Who shall inspire thy threnody, and wed
Thy walls 10 numbers mournful as thy breaen
Invoke no pagan Muse, whose tabled sigh
And painted tear but mimic woe sincere.
Come rather, thou, the spirit who dost rest
10 truths eternal seat il was thine eye
illumined him we mourn ; and thy pure fear
His greatness was. Thee, then, we call TO
teach
Our pain fit voice, who dds, thy seer's la
ment
Attune to chant NEE: dirge for lions fall.
"Oh that our heads were wstet!' Then might
reach
Our floods Of tears to the full argument
or our calamity, as we recall,
In contrast black, our hero's Y iorious morn
With this drear night that clouds il at mid
day.
But twice twelve moons before, VirginIa said:
"llithrr my sons, to meet the invaders scornl
They deem me withered in obscure decay
Ny bosom dry OF that proud mix that fed
Ny WnshDRtons and Heurys. Ger my head
sway
TO slavery this soul TO freedom born"
Then of her myrisds, raj! yjng TO her cry.
Our mothers instinct owned him foremost
son,
Modes, rs prompt. with spirit trained to
might
In secret p, aver, with BayMG's cbivalry
OF faith begouen with valor won
From God own strength aud truths seren.
est light.
She gave her banner 10 his stainless hand.
Thence, like the day-stsr blnLsd he IN her
front;
His sweep. the wind $, bis stroke the knell Of
To them who durs, pollute her sacred laud.
Onward and upward through the war cloud g
He scared with steady wing, as though 10
'instate
Her flag in freedoms peaceful citadel
Then, midst his Hottest flight, our eagle fell
That we were falln with him We learned too
late
Yea, bow o Lee, 10 grief that kingly front
TO which all others bent and weep thou drops
Such as were shed by Israels warrios king
For Jonathan the mighty slain
For now from thy right side disaster Tops
The arm which wont Thy victories 20 bring
Aud could thy grandest purposes explain
10 grander deeds. Yea, weep thou hoary chief
For with bis parting soul success hath flown.
To come no more. Not that thy worth is les
Or patriot will 10 win thy land relief;
Nor all thy heroes with their pattern gone.
Still shall ye toll and die but full success
No more shall crown these tolls, staunch as
his own
Still shall your gallant struggles honor save,
Losing all else. Aud weep ye rugged hosts,
Who laughed in rattle's deadlock. be has
gone
Whose shout worth fresh ba,'slions, 'ou,
inspired your charge. Weep too, ye martial
ghosts,
who, parting from your bleeding hesb, were
glad
That be still bs.tled TO ayenge your fall
For none remain that vengeance 10 demand,
Until the heavenly courts decree be had
Bat chieiest thou, Virginia. round thee cali
Thy mourning women draPe Thy widowed
land
In bsckcs, weeds and let thy eyes be wells
OF bitter waters. Yea add thou didst mournl
Twice didst ihou bury aim Toy maids Wiih
howe
Thy elders with bis mother-earih. Thy bells
W th dismal stroke and cannOns believing
groau
Measured Thy funeral step, ss al Thy powers
Unrolled their gloomy ranks.
iut badst thou seen with bic presaging eye,
How much was lost with him hadst broke
tie seal
OF fate FOR thy succeeding years and read
: he had read, that thy best cons should dieJ
Yet win no rescue for the common veal
BY thy itch flood IS vain, ~ freely shed
How couquerors, RUTHLESS 10 their pride Of
power