The National tribune., 1893-05-25


From The peaks thai kiss the sunrise
To the sunsets capped ledge,
Rolls the hearty, answering echo
To the Nations solemn pledge
or eternal, true devotion
To the remnant of our braves,
And with teaT-wct flowers to garland
All our msrtyF-beroes' graves.
Borne along the level prniries,
Answered back from pine-ciad hills.
Whispered through the tangled marshes,
ChRnied by a thousand rills
From our inland lakes and rivers
To the pulsing oceans surge,
Rolls the burden of the anthem,
Half n song and half a diTge:
Iaureis bring, and crowns of honor
For orr soldiers brave aud true;
Grateful tears for those who sluInber
In their uniforms of blue.
Silent now our boys are lying
Heroes they of many scars.
Rank and file three hundred thousand
Lying front-fHce to the stars;
Fast asleep. our soldier brothers,
Folded in the arms OF death,
Grassy green the turf above them,
Famed to-day by Summers breath.
Never more shall ireason's challenge
Or the Nations call for
Waken from their long, deep slumber
The batlaiions OF the slain.
Peace has spread her snowy pinions
Over all our quiet homes;
Swords are beaten into piowsharesi
But despite our JOY there comes
Surging up a cry that cannot,
Will not in our hearts be hushed,
For The temples that have fallen,
For the treasures that are crushed;
For the lights OF love that vanished
IL the waT-coud'- fiery track;
For The boys we gave our country,
For our loves that came not back.
Not alone on Northern hillsides,
Or OF Western pTairies wide.
lie our Biariyred brothers, fallen
IL their manly strength and pride;
The magnolia AID ihe cypress
Ofthe sunny Southland wave
Ger the wild flowers that the angels
Plant upon each soldieT's grave.
Let Ia pay our grateful tribuie
And thank God Tie dear Fl tg waves
Ger the Uuioa that they died for,
Ger Nation without slaves.
Sleep on. then. 0 fallen brothers,
Ia your silent, grassy tents;
Rolling drum Rud Blasting buele
Never more shall call you hence:
Winner SHOWS aud Summer sunshine
Fall UNDECIDED on your bed;
Naiitc winds and ssesi-vniced song-birds
Chant requiem for our dead;
Bat the great heart Of The Nation
Throbs in memory Of her braves,
And the fearful ieuediciion
Fails 10 flowers on your graves.
Years viii come and 20 unbiiden
In the soiema march Of time,
Generations read tlse record
o! your -acrifce sublime:
Be-; the altar fires OF freedom
You have iii shall never die
E,r ilIe ciauasiBg chains OF bondage
Curse lac soil where heroes lie;
Liberty shall wave her standard
From the mountain 10 tIte plain;
Your great gIii. 80 freely offered
VIII NOT. must not be ia vain.
Bow your heads. loyal freemen.
Der the lombs ye slrew with fowersi
Tge~e are freedom - dead forever
Not tire les forever ours;
= * their graves viii. yiciOrs' laurels
Nreaths Of rsrest fragrance Irvine
For our cherished dead, whose life blood
CrisuSoucd freedoms sacred shrine:
lie; The braris 81 All the people
Chant ilie prayer that wars may cease
AID the belle from every sfeeple
Ring he hHllOwed chimes Of peace.
Martha 4. Burdicz. Centralia ILL.,
VISION OF THE DAY.
First Prize Memorial Sketch
look from my window, and zee a strange pro.
sssiou. Those that make music in the land march
roudiy along. followed by people Of every rank in
e, from the jcueied lady in her carriage TO the
tgged beggaT Oa his crutches. / see the maiden
~ blooming into womauhood aud the Young
ian proud Of his strength aud wisdom. see The
.thers aud mothers, whose brows care has touched
-iII 40 light hand, and those whose feet are
D near the Celestial City that their faces have
sught little 81 it, gior.. Then there are The
aldren, theiT Joyous voices busiied by the solem-
ny 81 their mission bat their clear eyes sparkling
As look. asi exquisite perfume is waited toward
ie. and perceive shat they are bearing flowers.
lac choicest Of field and garden in their hands
Then say, hat nleaneih this; TO what altar
% these people haste with their fragrant offer
lgs"
Then the spirit Of my memory uaketl answer.
Look again, and thou shalt understand the mys-
cry"
The scene changes. i behold band of men
aaTching proudly along the street. They have
Used that dear old mothers lips pertaps lie
haVp unbalanced
I the maiden. who nlouFns for them one weeps
o. the dead. They have gone forth with fountains
( grief yelling up in their hearts. but with the
res Of patriotism rushing through every fiber OF
heir strong young bodies Their faces are glori-
ed with holy ambition. ITO fight for my
ouniTy j. the language Of every flashing eye.
But behold from the Southland comes another
and Of warriors. Breczes heavy with the fra
rance Of magnolia and blossom lift from
her white brows curls like the ravens wing.
hey. too. have sad good 10y to mothers and wives
ermiued, the throbbiug hearts Just as brave az
hose 81 the boys IN blue.
They meet Then u dreadful sight-a dreadful
ound! Right against wrong, brother against
'rotheT Ia long, fearful struggle for victory
Bat God j. on the side OF right, anI who can pre-
-ail against tie Most High?
The battle Is ended; aud from the sunny valleys
u the South, and the rugged hills of the North,
ONES wall OF sorrow that shall echo and re-echu
Trough ihe corridors Of time TIL s voice is hushed
y the haTmoniSs OF eternity.
] cover my face and weep 10 see the flower Of the
and stl in death. but tie Spirit whispers, Look
e. once more
Then see that the teTTors of war no longer stalk
Trough the land. The valleys nestle confidingly
IA he embrace Of the blls aud peace again reigns
upreme.
But tie PROSTATE oak tells that a storm has
aged around il, even though the sun is again
inning with iis wonted spleudor so there are
igus by y hIca know how fierce was the tempest
Thich only GODS voice could quiet; for see many
20 a Sation's mistake Ma
ioii's victory.
Then. a. look, see throngs or people coming
rom North and South Aud East and West They
ningle together aud cover the grassy mounds with
masses Of flowers. Then ! remember that every
ear, as May i about To- yield her scepter 10 the
Queen Of Months. ghey gather la Gods Acre with
heir floral beauties aud. regardless OF North or
0nth, they offer them ia memoir" OF those who
ieep. Ina Wright, South Los Angeles, Cal.
FIRST PRIZE MEMORIAL ESSAY.
While on my way to Washington last September
visited The battlefield Of Gettysburg aud the Ma
lonal Cemetery. My heart WAS filed with con-
letting emotions as stood upon that haliowed
round aud listened 20 the story OF that terrible
ght and the noble defense made by our heroes
galnst the invading foe.
experienced a feeling of profound grief and
errow when thought Of the thousands Of brave