The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-30
A DAY STORY,

, flu3obTgh DlSpdth.
The hall was long and dim and bare.
With windows high and shattered air,
And there an organs notes rose sweet, ~.
Mid fitting forms md cchoing feet.
And singers sung In voices low /!
An English chant OF long AGO,
That once the thought Of England led
10 Fontenoy's immortal dead:
How sleep the brave who sink 10 rest
By all their cOuulry's wishes blest?'
The choir was led by John Caglll,
OF the Eighteenth Corps from Malvern Hill,
And Old Bermuda Hundred, IN
The platform piled With flowers stood,
The, floor with evergreen was strcwcd,
The choir rchcarscd. and, one by one,
Dark forms stole irr from out the sun
AND laid their floral offerings down:
4 snow-wh!te cross. or living crown,
Marked with the names of those beloved 49,
Whose fate their loyalty had proved,
The choir still chanting sweet aud low
That haunting strain oflong ago:
"liow sleep the brave who sink'to rest
by all their country's wishes blest?i :.
"a noble hymn said John. Cagill,
OF the Eighteenth Corps from Malvern Hill,
And old Bermuda Hundred.
Some comrades Of old soldiers dead
Marched III. by tattered banners led,
And MARI each offering with a name,
To lay with dlrge and chant OF sorrow q
Upon the greening graves Tomorrow;
Gray widows came, and orphans fall,
And left their floral tributes there,
And heard the choir rehcarsing low
Tho mellow chant oflong ago:t
How sleep the brave who sink 10 rest
~ all their country's wishes blcst?"
Ills almost night" said John Cagill.
or the Eighteenth Corps, from Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda Hundred.
The shades grew long; the red sun NY :
Respondent on the hills OF Nay.
Without. the ring.dorescooed among
The sur 'set twigs, and red birds SING. @etl
The last rays through the shutters frames, l=Fa
Illunied the old iagS Of the James
That long Ind hung within the hall,
Above the pictures on the wall; 2st !
When through the door two late forms came,
4 colored girl, IN old slave dame,
Bearing q wreath OF flowers as white
as ever drank the morning light, 4
And on the platform laid It down,
Beside n new.mnde cross and crown,
Then paused TO hear the music flow
Along the sun. set arches low! ~
How sleep tho brave who sink to rest
by oil their country'S wishes blcst?" N,qstt
And on the V % gazed John Cagill
VI the Eighteenth Corps, from Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda Hundred.
where are you fromT, the veteran said:
The withcred negroes bowed her head
And answered., while tho sunset flames ,4
Fell on the banners OF the james, /"
And ell the people paused and wondered:
" lived at old bermuda Hundred.
And was a slave!n "What name shall We
lnSeribe upon your wreath?" said be;
THE one most dear 10 you who died =
Those old Virglnlan waves beslde2" - :
Steleaned upon, her daughters arms. ~
Her form q prayer, her face a PSALM ErSN'
Write, sir. his name who made me- free,
And give my children back to me!YJ
The choir sang on that strain Of old: IA, r
when spring Tith;dewy fingers cold"
Whose narne was that?" said John Casill.
OF the Eighteenth Corps from Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda hundred
A reverence on the people fell
And hushed tho choir: Good mother, tell
For whom you bought that wreath of flowers,
Whose worth and beauty rivals ours,
And VIC will mark the offering mir 81 !,
And to his tomb the tribute bear"
She bowed her head 10 answer make:
~ bought It, sir, for Lincoln's sakel"
The west winds stirred the suns last flames
Among the banners OF the James. \
Dim grow the eyes Of John Cagill, 55,
OF tho Eighteenth Corps from Malvern Hill
Il old Bermuda Hundred.
The room was still, men held their breath:
The Veterans chokcd; no floral wreath
Stirred In the makers hand. but. low;
They heard tho May winds breath and blow
Then rose the organs notes again. syas;sS
And sang the choir in sobblng strain:
$50 sleep the brave who Sink To rest
By all their conntry's wishes blcstl'I
And stood apart old John Cagtll &.
And wept 10 think Of s~iaivorn Hill I.
And. old Bermuda Hundred!
-HRzEKIAlI BurTERwogTH.