Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29
A MEMORIAL DAY STORY.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. ]

The hail was long and dim and bare,
With windows high and shuttered air,
And there an organs notes rose sweet,
Mid fitting forms and echoing feet,
And singers sung in voices low
An English chant of long ago,
That once the Thought of England led
To Fontenoy's immortal dead:
"How sleep the brave who sink to rest
BY all their country's wishes blestf"
The choir was led by John Cagill
Of the Eighteenth Corps from Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda Hundred.
The platform piled with flowers stood,
The hoor with evergreen was strewed,
, The choir rehearsed and, one by one,
Dark forms stole in from out the sun
And laid their floral offerings down:
A snow-white cross, or living crown,
Marked with the names of those beloved
Whose fate their loyalty had proved,
The choir still chanting sweet and low
That haunting strain of long ago;
How sleep the brave who sink TO rest
BY all their countrys wishes blest?"
"a noble hymn!" said John Cagill
or the Eighteenth Corps from Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda Hundred.
Some comrades of old soldiers dead
Marched in, by tattered banne ers led,
10 twine some flowers for wreaths OF fame,
And mark each Offering with name.
To lay with dirge and chant of sorrow
Upon the greenfng graves tomorrow;
Gray widows came, and orphans fair,
And left their floral tributes there,
The mellow chant of long ago:
How sleep the brave who sink to rest
BY all their countrys wishes blest?"
".Tis almost night" said John Cagill,
OF the Eighteenth Corps, from Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda Hundred.
The shades grew long; the red sun lay
Resplendent on the hills of May.
Without the ring-doves cooed among
The sun set twigs, and red birds sung,
The last rays through the shutters frames,
llluned the old flags of the James
That long had hung within the hall,
Above the pictures on the wall;
When through the door two late forms came
colored girl. an Old slave dame,
Bearing q wreath OF flowers as white
As ever drank the morning light,
And on the platform laid it down.
Beside new-made cross and crown,
Then paused to hear the music flow
Along the sunset arches low:
How sleep the brave who sink to rest
By all their countrys wishes blest?"
And on the two gazed John Cagfll
of the Eighteenth Corps from Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda Hundred.
where are you from?" the veteran said:
The w1thered negress bowed her head
And answered, while the sunset flames
fell on the banners of the James,
And all the people paused and wondered:
u lived at old Bermuda Hundred
And was slaver' "What name shall wa
lnscribe upon your wreathr" said he;
Ihe one most dear to you who died
Those old Virginian waves beside2"
She leaned upon her daughters arms,
Her form prayer. her face psalm
wv rite Sir, his name who made me free,
And gave my children back to mep'
The choir sang on that strain of old:
when spring with dewy fingers cold"
w hose name was THAR" said John CagiIl
VI the Eighteenth Corps from Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda Hundred!
reverence on the people fell
And hushed the choir: Good mother, tell
For whom you brought that wreath Of
flowers,
Whose worth and beauty rivals ours,
And we will mark the offering fair
And to his tomb the tribute Dear!'
She bowed her head to answer make:
~ brought 1t, sir, for Lincoln's sake!'
The west winds stirred the suns last flames
Among the banners of the James,
Dim grew the eyes of John Cagili
VI the Eighteenth Corps from Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda Hundred.
The room was still, men held their breath;
The veterans choked; no floral wreath
stirred in the makers hand, but, low,
They heard the May winds breath and blow
Then rose the organs notes again,
And sang the choir I'm throbbing strain;
so sleep the brave who sink to rest
BY all their country's wishes blestr
And stood apart old John Cagill
And wept to think of Malvern Hill
And old Bermuda Hundred.
HEZEKIAH BUTTERwoRTH,