The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-07-31
OBLIGATORY POEM.
Read at opening OF the National Relief Corps Homo
at Madison, July II.
LAURA RosAmoND WHITE.

LAURA RosAMoND WHITE.
When from n rocky, lofty mountain-side
blast is blown the echoes long we hear.
They rise and fall-repeat-and far and wide
, Cali to each other through the atmosphere,
TIL the last tone from Echo's silvery throat
Is q sweet, softened. and meodious note.
Days Of what sorrow. years of what renown,
- W nat grief and glory once were Freedoms part
Upon her brow she wore n starry crown,
But bayoneIs were pointed at her heart.
Her Northern sons, in heavens approving blue,
fOusht Tor her lile and would the fight renew.
will not tell the tale that she has told,
Our loyal leader of the W.RC.,
The story wonderful, and growing old
Bat beautiful and sad death must be,
vi sacrifices, daring, hope and pain,
vi that dark epoch when tears fell like rain.
Across the bridge Of time she gently comes
Win flowers Of memory in her hallowed hands,
Again we hear the rolling of the drums.
And listen to the tread of armed bands.
Anu harken in glad triumph and strange fear,
10 6ugle echoes, distant soft and clear.
He whom stern death when sternest could no.
daunt
Transcribed in dying hours. the conflicts lore.
And your commander. soldiers, silent" Grant,
WIN ihncy flaming ardOr jOurneyed DER
Each site Of slaughter. and with sturdy pen
Depicted what need not paint again.
Peace blessed the Nation and the tumult ceased.
Proudly and YEARLY the troops came home.
The black man from hs bondage was released
Our bonny banner lOstcd meath the dome
SUI rose aud azure, and with undimmed stars,
VICTORIOUS, but wearing many scars
Mid May became the handmade Of our love.
Her bowers We searched for c0usecraied bloom.
She touched with her most bsauteOus blossom
glove,
On Decoration Day. tle soldier. tomb.
Ana with each ciTciing q she sacred morn
The warm desire Tor further good was born.
"What shall we dos" wc said.
ITO honor the patriot dead.
And ihc living, who need our cArof
Are There no siits 30 spareg
. Rich and great Is our land.
What can 81 e. givcf' We planned
This home Tor thc women grand
10 bade, al wars harsh command,
To tho king, % their hearts adIeu,
And buitoued the coats % blue.
Mid the drums and the bugle's noise,
over the breasts Of their boys.
The mothers are old and gray,
And their sons are lar away,
Under the sod Of the South;
And Tie wife, who kissed the mouth
or her lord in sad good-by.
Knows that beneath the sky,
Somcw hcrc, his dreamlcss dust
Makes greener the green eaTth's crust.
or, II Northern fiow'ret shows
The place Of his deep repOse,
She Is on widow. whom fate
Has LEFT at charity's gate.
we will buy" we said. "or rear
home for the saints Of cheer,
Who toiled on the battledelds,
Where WAS set his bloody seals
And in hospitals dim. where grim
Death watched, lest they steal from him,
The lives he deemed his due.
Is 1t not time TO strew
"Flowers for those LOYAL ones.
W no followed the flashing guns
And the wounded. midst shot aud shell,
That uimicked the clash Of hell?"
To the Army Nurses halt
And To thee, Florence Nightingales
Take az our NEED to-day.
This giit, and your wreath of bay.
The emerald token is slight
IL It's compared with the bright
Domain OF beauty, beside,
That treachery failed 10 divide.
Here may the veteran have rest,
And h's wife bo n matTOuly guest;
Aud the GA. K. nurses here find
That the Nation Is tenderly kind.
Ny country My countryl for thee,
Brave sherman marched down " to the sea
And twas for thy glory and grace
That Sheridan's swift steed made race.
For thee! Tor thee! for thee
On the bosom Of pale Liberty,
Lincoln, our pilot and guide,
Our Prcsldent-maTtyF died.
The land that our foreinthers won
Aud handed from son 20 SON.
Is unit still aud fair
As the gold Of this Summer air.
But under the arch Of the years
Rippics tide of tears
For the dead. that doom decFeed
The rust OF the ground must feed.
From the smoke that battle Hngs
Our eagle spread his wings.
Aud screamed from the mountain crag
la scOrn FOR a double dag.
In the name Of our flag that's famed
From the Eastward aud Westward strand
Mid the echoes OF long ago,
That out Of the Southland blow;
We give, and We pray you take,
ON ttu shore of thi- sapphire lake,
Where the cool waves chant and foam
This National Home, sweet Home.n
While American frcsidcs glow,
Here the patriots love will flow,
Aud his children learn the worth
OF the lUyolicst land on earth.
sMFs. wiltonmeyer.