Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1889-08-29
Home and Mother.
ny GEORGE BANCROFT GRIrFIru

ny GEORGE BANCROFT GRIFFITH
A soldier OF the French Zouaves sick at Ge-
neya Law.
And wasted. thinking Oft OF home and love
one. far away;
His native hamlet often rose before his weary
eyes,
That dear old spot In Brittany. beneath the
smiling skies.
He thought OF father bent with years, Of moth
er. old and gray.
The little sister, bright-eyed lass, with whom
he loved 10 play.
And turning TO a comrsde near. his mate
through long campaign,
He " whispered - You'd that | could see my
father once agair."
The grizzly surgeon Kind OF heart. had heard
the weary sigh.
And thought. a fell the soldiers wish THE
wnsome boy may die.
Ill write a letter 10 his kin, perchance his
father. face
May seem like ray OF heavenly light " thin this
gloomy place;
May MI his closing hours with peace. and
when The sire departs
The message he may homewsr,i bear Will
s"oihe the aching hearts"
straightwsy with mol-teued eyes he wrote ;
the simple seI Was done,
And soon the good Old patriot was Fastening
10 hi- ron.
The evening shadows on the als Of that rude
ward lay dark.
" ben suddenly with eager voice the sick b.,
murmured .Hark.''
His strained ear heard familiar sieps-"Cour-
age, my lsd." "Who spoker
The cbeery accents sounded sweet, and CON-
rsde~ round him woke.
Twas him. the Ieasant roughly clad, from far
Who hv the cot with sacred joy now bent bis
aged Knee,
MY precious boy 50 brave and fair. sh. no.
YOU must not dr,
! our ch',k -haIl boom. fur what YOU need
l'Sc money here 10 bus.'
But earnestly the soldier spoke. No dainty
thing. | miss.
I'm broken with fell disease and long for
mothers ki->;
Yet dearly am | blessed indeed 10 see your face
again.
Your smile. the pressure Of your hand. does A.
most hani,h pain
4 shallow tell athwsrt the brow scanned hy
toll aui care.
And sirutly 10 hrA,cn- throne wss insc,i
father'. PRAYER:
80 God. my weary. wasted boy, Thy ser
Want far ha, come.
And Is Il only in hi. grief 10 take hi- dead one
hnmr,"
But let the pale and bag gard face that looked
into hi own
Might gIcs. hi. thoughts an -ccrcil, be made
hi- vi-hc- known;
'for tasthsr'S sake, the tried snd true, O
sparc him God above.
Her pure, whit" heart Is desolste. shc hunger
for MS love
Then. all at once s. leaning DER BIZ dusty
knsp.aiA thcre
lie touched with trembling hand loaf = csme
answer 10 his prsycr.
For by an impulse spirit born thA; common
bread Of rye
lie raised. aud beard angel sAy. The sot
der vii not die.
lIere. here nv son. take ihis." be ssid, twas
made ~ f4.fhrr's hand
How on you've lasted food Ike ;hi- In cur
dear native lsnd."
The sicA lad turned h- heavy eycs, they flashed
with sudden Juy.
once more In brighter mood he SPOKE, the
sc'fsAme happy boy
4. " hen tn peasant saTb he ala h,1l The eagles
fight or skipped
\ long the wave-w .hcd shore, alert. bright
rsed and ro.t-lipped'
With Thin palm strrtrhcti out greciiily, give
It 10 me-" lee cried,
I'm hungry, father. .it you down my pallet
nos beside
4. in the oidcu Day. hi. eyes hup with child
-h glrc.
IIc ,aw the low plain wall. % home. he heard
the murm' ring
The blood came back a crimson tide 10 neck
Hnh face aDd brow:
q" 81 good' - goodt NE trend frota homs-
In letter erea Hotr'r
And large tear roIled aiown his eheeks-the
surgeon standing nigh.
The witness ot hundred dghi-. had scarce
l,--s moisicued eve,
A. with a quivcr in hls ,oice-"Ah, hearty.
you're sil right.
lie softly added. In, your hli and swee,ly
sleep To- might"
\ new moon .hone uenrsa o'er. but far on
silver wave
The peasant >siled with -on beloved, the
French LOuave 20 brave.
I'm getting stronger every days Oft
would he repeat;
When get th,rr our good bisck brcsi III al
ways lotc 10 eat
Made D, my mother bles- the hand that
shaped the iuaf of rye
To save Il hnm->ick fellows hfe-,irnesa fair.
goodbye