Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-05-29
In NJ emoriam.
Contributed for Nav 3oth. 1884,


Salute our dead. our noble dead,
The good. the brave tn true
Salute our dead with guns and flags,
Those honest boys in blue.
Bestrew their graves that lie so low,
With richest rarest flowers that grow;
Well lay them there and softly say,
We love our d coration day.
We love to point with flag and flower.
To passer by the braveIwe own
In eurth's dark space, there lies a power
That saved Naton-and shook throne.
How brave man, to lace foe
With cla,hing steel and earnest will:
While face to face each strives to know
The grave. that one may fill
We call them boys, but they are men,
Attained to high degree
We measure time, the now, andehen-
The space-ir1mensity.
immensely of worth and deed,
Of valOr tried and true
Can we forget? Ali no indeed,
Our noble boys in blue.
Can we forget the patriot grand?
That faced the lannon's roar
The horrors of that battle stand,
Our dead, when all Is Ger.
Not so; There throbs in loyal breast
Responsive chords attuned to Joy,
That they have earned royal rest
Earth's highest praise without alloy.
Look, where we will, that sa BILE black.
sad reminder still is seen-
Happily the years going by, they not lack
Those well earned wreaths of laurel green.
Then bring them the lilies and lilacs mild,
Bring them the blue bells from the heather
wild;
Range the green fields and forest ieIls-
And bring them treasures In buds and bells
Think you'll mothers grief, fathers tears
For son that's gone before.
The hope o. their declining years.
The son that they adore!
Lies silent in obscurity,
His deeds of yalor naught
No! vast echoes roll through eternity
And on heavens scroll is wrought,
In glittering words of FURNISHED gold,
The sacrifice so nnbly made.
Thou faithful is written with gems untold
And on martyrs crown is laid.
Think you'll the love that rends the heart
Is lost, or faded, through times decay?
AL! No! IN fond remembrance grant me q
In our memorial day.
Not all are boys in their last sleep
That answered to that first en:realy.
Four lOny wears his watchful vigils keep,
Ny father did his duty.
In our last struggle was it all for naught?
When human flesh, was made q traders mart
Where mothers. daughters and babes were
bought
AND every sacred tie was wrenched apart?
Mol wrong is wrought when human rights
When human ties from angushed hearts
Are rudely handled and appraised.
But now, freedom of action, freedom ofthought
Your country honored by foreign seas
How rich purchase; how dearly bought;
Thdt floats your flag in every breeze.
Then let us give with cheerful love
The need our throbing hearts would say,
Well grant our tributes, with grateful thoughts
and sweet voiced minstrelsy
Salute. soldiers! We love your coats of blue.
Our hearts with pride and honor they Undue.
Defend your country's flag. If need be- fly.
To do the bidding of your mother-Libsrty
If need be- die, to gain the day,
To save your country from despotlc sway
To gain the day for what?
Your own posterity,
Gut He'll, comrades friends stand by your
colorS true
Again say. protect your glorious flag.
Nor let it trail in dust OF earth
To smirch or soil its beauteOus worth:
Nor eUer. euer let stain bef0ul its noble birth.
H. L. s.