Daily Republican., 1889-06-18
THE VETERAN AND HIS GRANDSON.
DYJ.w. CRAWFORD tcApr. JAcx.)

The following, read by William r.
Long at his reception on Wednesday
evening, June IL, 10 published by request
OF those present:
Dedicated to Corporal james Tanner.
Hold opl Hold on My, goodness! YOU
take my breath. my son,
A-frcin' questions u me like shots from
a GRtlm gun.
Why do l wear this eagle an flag am
bra2en starr
An why do my old eyes glisten " hen
somebody mentions war?
An why do ! cnll men "Comradc,n an
why do my eyes grow bright
when you hear mo tell your gran'.ma
I'm goin to Post to.'iightH
Come here, You fnquisitiyu rascal, und
6et on your grnnd-pa's knee,
An III try TO answer the broadsides
you've been a-flrcin' ut me.
Away back in tho sixties, und ulong
aforc You were born,
The news came n-fiushm' to us one
bright ana sunny morn
Tint some of our southern brothers
athihkin' no doubt 'twar right,
llud trtilcd their guns on our hummer,
an opened n nasty fight.
me grCHt big guns wuI n.boOmtn', an
the shot flyin' thick md fast,
And troops all over the southland war
rapidly bein' massud.
An thrill went through the national
,,,. fear TINT our glorious land
Might be split an divided an ruined by
mistaken brothers hand.
Lord, but want there excitement, IN
didn't the boys eyes flash2
An didn't we curse our brothers for
Dein' so foolish nm rush?
An DIDN'T We raise the neighbors with
loud m continued cheers
when Abe sent out II dockyinent n-ca!lin'
for volunteers?
An didn't we flock to the colors when
tho drums began to beat,
An didn't We march with proud steps
along the village street?
An didn t the people cheer us when we
got aboard the cars
Win the tiIg n-Wavin' DER u.s. and went
uwny to the wurs7
III never forget your gran'-ma as she
stood outside O the train,
Her fnce us white us snuwdrlft. her
tenrs a-fallin' like rain.
Shc stood there quiet an death like mid
- MI o. the rush and noise.
FOR the war war a-takin' from her, her
husband and three brave boys
BIZ, Charley and littlo Tomny-iust
turned eighteen, but a. true
An gallant II little soldier rs ever wore
the blue.
1t seemed almost like murder for to tenr
her poor heart so,
hut your. gran'-dad couldn't stay, baby,
nm the boys war determined to 90.
Tho eyenin' afore VIC started sho called
An told EN- as how they war always
their mothers Joy and pride,
Anithonsh her soul was In torture, an
her poor heart Dlceqin' an sore,
An though she needed her durlings
their country needed 'em more.
She told 'Cm to do their duty wherever
their feet might roam,
An TO never forgit IN battle their mother
wns pruyin' ut home;
An II tan the tears near chnked herl
%, they should fall in front O the foe,
Shed go to the blessed Savior and AK
Him TO tighten the blow.
Bill lays an awaits the summons ,nenth
spottsylvania's sod,
An ON the field of Antietam Charities
spirit went baek 10 God;
An Tommy, our baby Tommy, we
buried one star-lit night
Along with his fallen Comrades. inst
after the Wilderness Tight,
The lightnin struck our fnmil y tree, and
stripped IT o. every limb,
Aleuvin' only this burc old trunk II.
standin' alone and grim
My boy, that's why your grandma.
when you kneel to the God you
love,
Makes you ax Him to watch your uncles
an mako 'em happy above.
That's why you sometimes sec her with
tcurdrops in her eyes,
That's why You sometimes catch her
n-tryin' TO hide her sighs;
That's why ut our great reunions she
looks SO solemn an sad;
That's why her heart seems a.breal<in,
when the boys are Jolly and glad;
That's why you sometimes HAD her in
the bedroom overhead,
Down on her knees n-prayin', with their
pictures laid ont on the bed;
That's why the old-timu brightness will
light up nor fIIce no more
TIL shO meets her hero warriors in the
camp on the other shore.
An when the great war was over, back
came the veterans tImC,
With not one star u-luissia' from the
azure Held of blue;
An the boys, who on the field o. battle
Ind stood the tloly test,
Formed iobts o tho great GMnd Army
II the North, South, East and the
Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty, Is the
motto meath which they train
Their object to care for the helpless an
Danish SORROW al pain
From the homes of thG widows an or.
phnns q the boys Who hyvo gone
before.
To answer their names at ron call in the
great Grand Army Corps.
An that's why We wear these badges,
the cugle an the tllg an altar,
Worn only by veteran heroes WHO
fought i'll that bloody war,
An That's why my old eyes Elisten
while talkin' about the iruv,
AN that's why call ni0u "Cumradan
when lucct 'CIa every day;
An that's why tell your grandma I'm
going to Post tonight
For there's where ! meet tho old bows
who stood With me in tine fight,
An my child, that's why i've taught
you to love and revere the men
Who come here n-weariu' badges, to
fight those BATTLES again.
They are the gallant heroes who stood
mid shot and Shall,
An followed the flying colors right into
the mouth a. he'll.
They uro the men whose Valor saved the
land from disgrace and shame,
An liited her back in triumph to her
perch on the dome O fame:
An us long Ga you live, my darling, till
your pale lips i'll death nlc mite,
W hen you see that badge on n bosom
take OF your Int ana salute:
An If any old veteran should halt YOU
an question why you do,
Just tell HIM, you've got n right to, for
your gran-dad'sa COmrude, too.
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