The morning call., 1891-07-05
POETIC THOUGHTS.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.
LIEUTENANT LOU.

SS<yYou want me to tell you story?
ESFLSZ All, all my stories are oldl
EEg SFOr the winter of age is on me,
- And the nights are growing cold.
am not what once was, comrades:
My voice is trembling and weak,
Ana it fails me often aud often,
Whenever try TO speak.
Yet draw your chairs nearer, my comrades.
For I've one think will do.
IT'S the story OF a hero. lads
OF brave young Lieutenant Lou.
Twas during the time of that cruel strife
When the whole world stood aghast,
To watch the war that was tearing our hearts,
And rivers of blood flowed fast.
When brother fought against brother, my friends,
And the fends OF war held sway;
The darkest time in our nations whole life
The strife 'twixt the Blue and Gray.
But of all the lives that were lost that time
Aud many were brave and true
There is that shines like star to me-
Twas our young Lieutenant Lou.
He was young-a boy. only tweuty-two-
Handsome and gallant and gay;
And no matter what trials came along.
He was always bright as day.
can him now on his big black horse
He was cavalry, you see
As he answered " Here" when his name was called
And smiled cross the ranks at me.
The boys all adored him. as well they might
And he was the pride and joy
or the whole brigade from our leader grave
To the smallest drummer-boy.
No matter how wearing the march might be-
He, always ready to smile,
Had laugh or jest a merry word
The tiresome time TO while.
Well, one day we had hard sklrmish with
A party of "rebs " in gray.
All. comrades, in all that long. sad war
To me twas the saddest day
can see him now, with his fair head bare
And his gray eyes flashing fire.
As he won that day with q handful OF men
Aud a courage naught could tire.
For somehow the "rcbs" got between our ranks,
And we could not take him aid
Yes, we tried but our gallant leader fell,
And we stood there all dismayed.
But he fought like a lion that brave boyt
And he kept those "rebs " at bay,
While we watched, longing to be at his side,
And held our breath in diSmay.
He was In the thickest of that hard fight
When he saw our leader fall
From his horse down under the rebels feet,
And pierced by rebel ball
And all in a moment alone he rode,
Under the enemys fire,
To the place where wounded Captain lay,
While all stood still to admire
The fighting ceased, and the enemy's host
And ours were as still as death
As we watched that courageous fellow ridei
And hardly dared draw our breath
Well. he reached the Captain and raised him up
In front of him on his horse,
Sauted the rebels and wheeled around
And bore him back to his force.
Twas gallant deel and nobly donei
And the gray coats cheered like mad,
And we-wei. men, there tears In our eyes
As we watched our gallant lad
But just as he reached the edge of our line
Some one on the other side
Some cowardly handbook aim and fred;
And that. mates, how he diec.
He fell, shot dead through his noble young heart
Shot dead by towards BALI
Shot through the heart that was beating SO high
One moment before his fall.
Nell, we made truce-we could fight no mora
For hearts were very sad;
And the rebes-well, mates, to tell the truth
1 think they felt most as bad.
And they helped us bury him there that night
By the pale moons silver light,
And our tears fell fast on his sunny face
As we hid 1t from sight.
When 1t was over we stood face to face
Two different and hostile bands
Then over the grave OF Lieutenant Lou
The Blue and the Gray shook hands
You asked me to tell you a story
Well. mates, my story Is done