Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-02-02
AND THE BAND PLAYED.
ITS MUSIC WAS FILLED WITH
MEMORIES.
How the Old Soldier Heard Again tho
Grand, Wild Music of War--Met-
odies Move the Blind-A
Stirring Poem In Prose.

1
lifted his head and listened to tho
strains. At first they only touched
| his soul with faint confused remem-
ORANGES, then the mus seemed to
boar him back to the familiar scenes
he once had known. He seemed to sec
his mother on the vine. clad porch OF
the old home shading her eyes with
her hand and watching him rs he
went down tho long hill toward tho
wooded stretch where deep shadows
wGvered across tho yellow road. and
klingIe- klangle OF the cow bells from
the meadow just below the broo6.
October stood ia those familiar paths;
he could feel her spicy breath full in
his face rs the whiriing irs-tinted
leaves showered around him and
roguish squirrels scurried daringIy
along the way. lie was a boy again!
" But bark.
"Oh, say, can you see by the dawn's early
light,
What 50 fondly we hailed at tho twilights
last cleaning"
All! Now he seems 10 see his IA
Their as he came to him in the twilight
OF summer day and said u little
TREMENDOUSLY. but with new ring in
his voice:
my boy our country needs US
Are you ready"
Readyp All! was no not? lie feels
again tho thrill and glow OF those
days of preparation and theu-Oh! if
he had known that the fair head OF
the girl he loved would never rest
upon his breast again; that that kiss
was the last her sweet lips would ever
give him in this world!
The gray head bent still lower on
his breast and over the dust and CRIME
Of his lurrowed cheeks rolled the
slow tears.
The band played on. but now the
air was changed. and before the
sightless oycballs Of the old man the
notes flashed up and down like balls
OF fire:
Yes. y ell rally 'rouu1 the fl lg, boys,
We'l rally once lin,
Shout ng the battl, cry Of free lom''
Again he feels the shock and long.
reverberatiDg roar of battle. Robert
stripes; he secs them floating now
above the blue on moving ranks
Huzza, On comes the storm OF shot
and shell. The miuies scream death
song as they pass and the dense
smoke falls like flame .fringed pail.
His comrade on tho lett drop. out OF
! sight; he was his tent-mate and his
lifelong friend. No matter. For.
ward! He leaps aside to dodge q
circling shell. A warm spray show
! ers on his cheek and hand the life.
blood OF his comrade on the right.
Sill. forward!
! The lines are closing-are together
now; n troopers saber cuts his
brother down. Il gray clad arm grasps
for the falling flag There is shot
a rain OF blows! A deadly hate
filed conflict hand TO hand. and then
binding tortuous flash that hides
the flag forever from his sight-but il
is saved! Yes
Down with the trai or
And up VITA the Stars"
The old man had risen to his feet
and stood erect and soldier.lke until
the band passed by. He was poor.
blind and helpless but now no longer
felt forgotten and alone. He settled
down again and soon the dews oil
evening cooled his brow and SLOWLY
up above unfurlcd the starry banner
OF the armament.
The boys had broken ranks ant
hurried 10 their rooms and as on,
young fellow united the tasseled bugl,
from his arm he raised it to his lip:
/ to sound tattoo.
Blow out yoar lights You lazy bummcr5
Blow OIt your lights and 60 to bed;
Blow ont your lights you lazy bummsrs,
Bow out your lights AMI go to bed >
The old man heard tho sounds anG
his patient face shone with great con
tent The boys are all in camp" h,
murmured. and now we'll soon b,
; going home-going home"
Re laid his hands across his loya
heart and turned his face-a patriot
cOuntersigu-up toward the watchfu
sentinels OF night; and in the morn
ing when some passers-by tried t,
awaken him with kindly touch. the!
found that he had answered to tn
heavenly reveille. --Grace Dutfie Ro
in the Chicago Inter Ocean.