Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-08-26

The following 10 the poem delivered d
the meeting of the Firss Maine Regiment
Association At Camp Geaves. VIM. Wed
nesday evening by Comrsde J. ". Ambrose,
Coral, county commissioner for AFoosteok
Tn. hoy. IN blue" onee more together
We meet 10 spite Of wind or seslbsr;
Once more around thu nag rally
A. gather la from hall and valley.
Though whiSrned locks and hmpkRx gait
Proclaim our fast int sdinz fate
Though tell tale years have marked a. veil
As IN mans lot has ever fsll
Dar hearts stlsi beat with patriots pride.
A nd when east our cares aside
And lefs homes q, freedom. call,
And 80 1re thu lag ehoald never fall,
Whs ;igttnlngs hasii and siandrrs roll
Proclaimed the news from shore 10 shore
That a rebel rag vas soa ing high
10 this our American sky,
The "boys tn blue" then rallied for.h
To meet great bat errsng South
They sent not forth for spar i've xlles
Nor yet to basx in snaay SMILES.
For Southern blood they knew va up
A nd bitter Or. 80 re- IN the cup
But duty sounded wars alarms
A nd Of Naiue Then rushed 10 arms.
Tiny laid their hearts On liberry's Altar
With no thought of sear. no cause to FILTER
iii the las rebel traitor shoald stagger ard rec
Or surrender his "psy" with his well polished
steel.
And with the surrender his teaIty to swear
For "Oid Glory" must never be 'railed in the dirt,
Though rebels and drmasogues chance TO BE- hnft
Well the contest was hst-the struggle was long
The hot headed South and the North cool and
strong.
Shoulder 70 shoulder each soldier then stood
To ugh. for his cause amid torrents of blood,
hut the cause Of the south though brsTely defend
Fell to the ground and the struggle ended.
And nation united meath the flag o. the stars
Was herslded forth BY our true sons Of Mars.
An, the shouts Of Joy that rung ON the air
A nation redeemed from secession's bold snare
And the flag Of the free forever shall wave
Ger the land which the "boys gave their lives
up 10 save.
But now the ''boys"are growing gray,
Our rank grows thinner every day,
Our friend ffoke Smith need fret no more
Wen soon stop knocking at his door.
Our forms VIII soon lie in the dust
And our pensions then safely rust.
But there is thing they cannot STEAL
The proud Assurance which we feel
That in the nations night of gloom
We sent rebellion to its tomb,
And Joy aud peace forever more
Shall dwell on fair Coiumbia's shore.
Nor can the nation ere forget
How loyal sons the crisis met.
Men ca at forget the stirring times
So Oft the theme Of song and rhymes,
When fathers sighed and mothers wept,
As DER the land the whlrlwind swept,
When maiden's sigh. mairons prayer,
Fell IN soft cadence on the air.
When wives and sisters sighed and prayed
lne crimson tiue inlgnt yet De stayed.
They can't forget the sad farewell
That from the lips of lovers fell,
As from each home and nreside
The "boys' went forth with manly pride.
The starry flag al0ft to bear
Without d inurnur or "A tear
still less forget how comrades bled,
How oft we left them stark and dead.
How on their dying lips the word
The dear old nag" was often heard.
oh, can these memories ever die
While the sun shall shine above the sky.
Or PATRIOTS heart wake 10 the Tyre
OF loyal deeds that must inspire?
No. nations heart VIII always beat,
Whenever our history repeat.
Then trim the lamps. boys. light the fires.
Shout till the night and day expires,
p with the flag. ring out the cheer,
May W. never meet worse in our pilgrimage here
Than the tear that enjoyment can gld with a
smile"
or the hours Of care that song can beguie.