Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-16

n
seemed all ntunc
Save the laugh Of some care'irec youngsier that
ripplcd through the air.
All tho camp was hushod and quiet rs became
the day OF prayer
The river danced and dimplcd, the sunlight
glanced aud CLEANED,
And sweetor day, or faircr, no poet ever
dreamed
The soft clouds floating over spoke the Infinite
grace above,
Why, even the breeze In the tree tops was whis'
pcrnE God Is love"
or course there were lots OF fellows that
couldn't have told you this,
But their rough hearts felt II, and soitcnod %
under bahy's kiss
And we all had wordcss feeling somehow,
that glorious day,
That the mcrciful Ali.Father WASH quite 80 far
away
Our hearts to Him were turning with a longing
for the light
And kind OF shame. fac ycarnlns to he whittier
In Ills sight
The bugle called to sorvioo-wo'd parson there
that day,
And we all felt more than ready to hear what he
had to say,
1.-THE preached honnre md blaIes until his
breath was spent
And all that he had " give US was, "rcpcnt-re-
pcnL repent"
Loudmouthod and biz and burly, not q word
had he to spoak
or the love and mercy waiting for the orring
and the weak;
And Il you had heard him praying, you would
have thought his prayer,
SO full VI our guilt aud vleness, Just poisoned
the sweet June air.
All tho light went out Of the sunshine, the beau.
~ left the day,
We looked At each other grimly-wo hadn'I .
hut we thoughti "If this Is religion, Ro; any OF
II for mo,
No Heaven for US along with any such sanity
| fraud ~ he"
We had htrayed like sheep from pasture, but wo
knew the fold was there,
And We meant TO come back, sometime, 10 the
| shepherds watchful care;
hut II stirred up all our evil to hear that follow
rant
Here he had n chance to load US, and he los, IL
by his cant
Righ, IN the midst OF service came hurried
word to me
Down In the shining river, stnl dlmpling on In
gloG,
One OF my boys lay drowned, deep under the
waters fair,
Only an hour ago with US, and now forever
whcrcY
l took squad OF his comrades, and hastcnod
down to the bank
Sadly We tshcd ms body out all white aud
cold aud dank,
Sadly we carried him into camp and straight
| encd him out In death,
And spoke Of hls widowed mother, with low an'
troubled breath.
No wood had we for cofins, and 80 ! told tn
boys
10 tear from my tent tho flooring, with tn
least they could Of noise,
And build box to put him Through, but GU
best, you sec
Tho rest OF US In turn might not faro half o
wen as he
Service was done, aud tho pArson had gone baol
into his tent
Tho boys asked mo to sec him, so with heav!
steps went
And l said: "Beg pardon, parson, there's
burial over there,
Wed like to have you come along and say
word Of prayer"
His glance 10 cold, ana chilling, never can for
| get
For ali it was SO long ago, 1t makes me ansr,
yet
But thought myself mistaken at first when h
| refused
"He was worn out with his sermon; he mus
really be excused"
Then said Neg pardon, parson, you do no
understand,
| No ~ kulHN W Jury u you 10 ohll
priest nj hand
We only wish q word OF prayer as we lay thu
lad away
The parson answered, woariedly; mo, thanl
you, friend good day"
Ny heart grew cold as marble; tho blood nov
into my head,
And, well, It Is hardly needful TO tell you what
said
l never was really mad Till them could no
keep II H.,
And ! don't feel yet that my anger was verl
much Of sin.
l talked III the plous coward sat shiyering II
his scat
with u face as white as the dead face out In tn
company street
Then | said III you dare preach here again
| you miserable scamp,
IN order my men-and help them, too-to ston,
you out Of camp"
Tho buglers blow assembly, we gathered round
the dead
And followed the rough board conn, with SloV
and solemn tread,
LsStk.S.,z1 81. L~+.-