The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1892-10-13
DURHAM, N. c..
LOCK HART SPE AXIS
Makes the Closing Talk at the Late
Reunion.
Large Crowd HOHOrs the Grand Oe.
caSiOn.

caSiOn.
MIRTH AND SADNESS COMMINGLE
1t Was the Last Roll Call the Veterans of
the Company Expect to Have
on Earth.
This is sad, solemn and consecrated
hour. My heart swells with mingled
emotion of pride, pleasure and sadness.
More than a quarter of a century has
elapsed since that beautiful flag with it's
silken cords was presented to a noble
band of young men, full of hope and
pride, and as brave as ever kept step
with the fife and drum; anxious for the
fray to begin. They were proud Of that
token. They priced it not for it's intrin-
sic value, bat the dear hands that made
it and presented it. Many the times
when on the march, glance at it would
stimulate them to noble and heroic deeds
and put new life into them, but we are
here on this noble and solemn occasion,
few of US, to pay tribute to that hon.
ored and beloved banner.
YES. tits true it's torn and shattered,
And with heart-blood has been spattered,
And its staff broken and shattered,
But it is precious sight.
'Tis witness how secession.
Threw its glove down to oppression.
ScOrning at the last concession,
Giving life-blood for the right.
No. in our hearts deep, deep recesses,
It's memory fingers yet and blesses,
Those who for it fought and died"
am proud tc say that no man can
charge the brave men that bore il with
dishonor. No man can ever say it trailed
in the dust Here it is, black, tattered
| and torn, wreathed and bedecked with
daring deed of the true and the brave
| We meet to pay our last tribute Of re,
spect on earth. Fold it up gently, and
let it pass into the archives of our great
old state for future generations to ad
mire. In this presence to-day are gath
cred brave and true men that came home
| at the close OF the war in defeat-not in
splendOr, but with brave hearts. Many
of them with their faded gray jacket and
with bleeding feet. where they met low
| ing hearts with outstretched arms TO re-
| ceive them having surrendered his gun
and bid his comrades farewell, he turns
with sadness as he departs and thinks Of
those companions, kindred and friends
that lie on the many battle fields, and So
| liloquizes with himself and says, as he
turns his feet towards his happy home
what shall tell his mother and father ot
the poor unkissed soldier boy that sleeps
on the field of battle with nothing but
his gray blanket for winding sheet He
marches on home, though sad at defeat
but inspired with the hope that he will
soon see his loved ones and set down
| around the old fireside and look upon
the beautiful and loved faces that greet
him there, and tell them of his trials and
| hardships and the days that are gone
But alas how different from what it was
in 1851, whed he enlisted. Mother, father
brother or sister gone. There is vacant
chair, his house in ruins, his farm de-
vastated, his barns empty, his money
worthless almost everything swept
away, and through a misty veil he sees
staring him in the face one of the great
est problems of that age, "how shall
| make living for myself and loved ones
What does he do: Does he sit down
and fold his hands in despair. No, be
grasps the situation and with his old
army horse or mule he bids adversely de-
isnce-he steps from the roll call TO the
| plow handle, and soon the devasted field:
are waving in living green, promising an
abundant harvest Does he murmer oil
complain No, at night he gathers about
him the loved ones and relates the story
I of his soldiers life and by-gone days