The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-21

Memorial DAY Acs'lAoonsl
= eArs. TACK enkNfohD. sntz roEr scor1.r
Son Of ! veserans Yes. sir. and proud Of
the title. too,
Proud that my sire. now sleeping here. once
wore the honorcd blue,
Proud Of therccofl that he made in Dixie's
blood -iieckcd land;
Proud q The country such as he saved nom
Proud Of The starry flag that fonts 50 gal
A country reunited IN bonds of patriot love:
Proud Of the hlest assurance that above
those clondless hanks
MY fathers soul now musters IN the spirit
soldier ranks
True. was but q lad. sir. when the battle
summons came,
And had no real conception Of the patriotic
tlamo
Which glowed with lurid lustcr Ia cach
loyal Northmnn'e breast,
And drew themto the colors, my father
with the rest
But oftcn ii the evening. whom the lamp
waa burning dim,
Ny head upon my mothers knee, she'd talk
And III my youthful bosom grew apatriot
love is bright
Az that which nerSca my father III many d
bloody fight.
All through those wears IL carnage my
mothers gentle face
Seemed the dread fear TO mirror which in
heart found place.
Fear that her soldier husband III the battle
front might fall
And die amid The conflict, pierced BY dis
loyal ball.
How eager she scanned the papers that
brought as news of the fight,
Her eyes would with loyal cleaning and pa
triot fire be alight.
As she read how the corps had never for q
single moment sweryed-
The gallant old Fifteenth Corps, sir, in
which my father served
One day near the close Of the conflict the
news ~ battie came,
And IN the long list Of wounded appeared
my dear fathers name
With lips alitrcmbling and bloodless, my
mother read this 70 mey
John Lame gnnshot wound IN the ankle
amputated above the knee.
With moan Of Piteous anguish she clasped
me close 10 her breast
And as 70 her throbbing bosom my hoyish
form she pressed,
She cried to the tod of battles 10 with COM
forting hand sustain
The dear one who far In the Southland lay
writing Ia keenest pain.
q
Ny father came home on crutches, In his
faded suit Of blue,
And into his arms my mother with cry Of
happiness flew,
Forgotten the roar a battle, forgotten the
weeks Of pnin,
As he cried: Thank God, old mother,
live 10 see you again
You haven't rs sound husband As you
placed in the hands Of God,
And sent 70 the front of battle; for meath
Mississippis sod
| left one good leg behind. me, but It's loss
I'll never regret,
For our dear old country Is safe mother,
and the Old flag Is waving We"
But the hardships and exposures through
those years Of dreary strife,
The trials and Che rigors which cling to .
soldiers life,
Had fastened their deadly clutches IN my IA
Tiers system, and
He became helpless cripple, scarce able tc
lift hand
AT last BY his loving comrades his body was
hither borne,
To await the reyeille summons on the res
direction morn,
And here ms sacred duty. on each Memo.
rial Day,
These wreathes Of beautiful flowers DER his
cherished form lay.
Son q ! veteran3 Yes, sir; and ! glory IN
the name;
The thought Of my fathers yalor sets my
youthful heart afiame
With the fires Of patriotism, the same that
filled his breast,
When with his valorous comrades TO the
battle front he pressed,
And If again In the future our country
should threatened be
BY hand Of domestic traitor or foeman from
DER the sea.
I'll spring to the front ut the summons, and
try to battle as brave
AS the hero warrior sleeping meath flowers
in this honored grave.
National Tribune