, 1889-04-25
uAI1. TO THE Boys IN BLUE.


These we're not soldiers in the broader
sense. They we're citizens who went forth
at their country 3 call and hurried home
at the welcome return Of peace, Ihey
were the iaI mers, the merchants. the
mechanics, the laborers, the professional
men and the business men in general who
were willing to make sacrifice OF
their own lives in order that
the Union Of our fathers might live.
A grauder spectacle is not to be found re-
corded in tho annals of human valor.
Thrifty merchants, deeply absorbed In the
affairs of growing trade, closed mp their
accounts. buckled on their knapsacks, bade
farewell to their wives and children ana
friends and hunied away to endure the
hardships. the tolls and privations OF serv-
ice at the front. The lawyer forsook his
lucrative olientsge and BRIGHT prospects for
advancement and the physician bade
adieu TO his profitable practice and swelled
the ranks of the brave volunteers. The
village blacksmith with his soma at work
on the farm near by reads OF the faiter-
ing. doubtful cause Of the Union and OF
the bold rebellion as it progresses at the
South and spreads with alarming progress
toward the North. He leans upon the
bellows as his neighbors 20 hurrying by,
raDying at the call of the mastering
drum. At night he wakefu lies aud for
many days reflects upon his duty to his
country. At last he makes up his mind.
With head erect and lips compressed,
He throws his hammer by.
The purpose of bis manly breast
Is now to do or die.
He seeks the camp; "Put down my name,
(My boys will mind the shop0
II the traitors want my hearts best blood,
III sell 1t drop for drop.
"And here comes now my oldest boy:
NV son, what would you do2"
"Father, my brother will drive the trade;
I've come to fight with you."
cannot send him home.
But here's the other boy, 1 see
NY son, what made you conner"
"Father, could not work alone;
The shop may 20 to grass;
I've come To fight for the good old flag;
stand off here-let me pass"
"Yes, put him down-he's noble boy;
I've two that are younger still;
They'll drive the plow on the lonely farm,
And work with right good will.
"My God and here comes one of them
My son, you must not go!"
Father, when traitors are marching on
cannot pillow or SOW"
"Well, thank God, there is one lef, yet
He will piow and sow what he can;
But he s only boy, and can never do
The work of u full grown man."
With a proud, full heart the blacksmith
turns,
And walks to the other side:
For he feels weakness he almost scorns
And a tear he fain would hide.
They tell him now his youngest boy
Is putting his name on the roll
1T must not be- says the brave old man:
"No, no he's the light of my soulf
But the lad comes up with beaming face,
Which bears neither fears nor cares
Father, say nothing--my name is down,
have let out the farm on shares"
And now they march forth to the tented
field,
And when the wild battle had come
They struck full blow for the stars and
stripes,
For the right, for their country and
home.
And the old man has long since passed
on to the great continent of eternity. The
boys are with us here in Spokane Falls to-
day. They honor US With their presence
these citizen-soldiers, these sodier-citi-
zens. All hail 20 the gallant boys IN blue!
Thrice welcome are they to march our
streets. bedecked as they are with the same
good flag they fought to save! In the lam
zuaRe of one we'll gifted in speech, 1--WE
nave one sentiment for soldiers living and
lead cheers for the living, tears for the