Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-01-24

while pain u parting with soldier true
Throbs In the dirge that bears the dead along
And May returns TO breathe proud adieu
In smiling flowers and sorrows sweetest
song,
Tis sadder 70 recall his ray good-by
When life was sweet, and laughter lit the eye:
Good-by. old boy, good-by
Since Time, grown neeter for our heroes all,
Still claims the years foregone, with what
they gave
Deaths ba.tle-dreams and Glory's trumpet
call,
Seldom unwelcoms 10 the crippled brave
While hurrying on they halt to sigh farewell.
A oft In battle when o comrado fell:
Farewell, brave boy, FAREWELL
While Time 10 hurrying all our soldiers so,
Their friends. the people breathe passing
sigh
A. the quick-step with which they gsyly 90;
They say good day, and think sad good-by,
Or say farewell nor dream that death Is nigh;
But oil their greetings meet brave reply:
0ood-by, old friend, good-byl
Then merrlly roll the drum and shrill the flfe
Obey with old-time step the bugle's blast,
That what you won In wars ensanguined strife
May make the future worthy Of the past;
But while you march to make gala day,
Your feeble footsteps echoes seem to say:
Good-by 70 our good day.
The feasts Of heroes when their heads are gray,
Are but farewells, and while their banquet
board
Bears richer garlands than the flowers OF May,
That for the brave the sweetest balm afford.
Their fsint-remembered fragrance bresthes
good-by
Tho laughter lords the lip and mlrth runs high
Good-by, old boy, good-byl
The neetins campnros brightest blaze but
brings
The camp beyond more wildly to view;
The merriest song the veteran soldier sings
Recalls tho death Of some brave boy in blue,
Who sang the same gay song, nor thought to
die,
But wrote before the fight with fearful eye;
0ood-by, sweetheart, good-byl
From the canteen, DER which you often
laughed,
The price Of life some one Of you outpoured.
Nigh to the dregs 10 waters precious draught,
For dying foe who pronered you his sword--
Conquered by love, whom death could not sub
due,
Whom both to life and love had sighed adieu;
Adieu, sweet home, adleul
Heroes, who bore, without one flinching word
Wars missile lodged meath valors ruddler
veins,
Tho blood-klssed badge Of battle-death de-
ferred
For many years, have smiled, In mortal pains
And deuthbed dreams that woke the battle
cry,
And gave again their colors to the sky.
Good-by my braves, good-by
And some upon the silent sea set soil
In ships that shelled your foes IN days Of yorc,
Our gallant tars God grant gentle gale,
happy Land, a-hoyl'' and heavenly shorcl
Our sailors bravcl who taught men how to die,
When ships 20 down or vctoly's pcnnants nyl
Good-by brave tars, good-by.
One veteran cannot live another day
One last good night or one more brave good
morning;
And some arc wishing 10 be called away,
And soalc are called without one word OF
warning;
And il there be no kindred nesting nigh,
Nor conlrade near, with overhownl eye,
The flag will weep good-by.
Your farewclls now ore fonder cen than when
al ..l1 hnr hiatt
throlc
on fire and SMOKE to Freedoms clearest ken
TIL Love $ bright Str IN all Its beauty shono
Amid her atars, that dared uot bid adiou
To Freedoms Held OF fair and fadcless blue
No, not q last adleu
From Lees farewell to Grant, with cyelids
dim,
The song Of poace glorious keynote caught,
More beautiful to hear than bGttic hymn.
And I'LL the tunes that warlike triumph
taught,
And SO across the fields Of death there fell,
Between. the Blue and Gray, a Kind farewell
Fondor to-day FAREWELL"
Thank God that for the flag theres no farewell
That Freedoms fields with Maylowers aye
shall bloom
"Old Glory breathing there her peaceful
spell,
Shall ne'er forsake her heroes halowcd
tomb;
But bend with swelling pride to kiss adieu
10 the last soldier to the Union true;
Adien. brave boy, adeu
Our noble regiments are thinning fast.
Then let their remnants come to one camp
FIRE;
The brotherhood OF battle shall outlast
Its ashes cold. and as It's sparks expire
And cast your shadows as In wartlmos blaze,
With other shadows cast By death cold rays
Farcwolls OF other days.
Go forth the fate Of war ngain to try
The fight OF life whateer the liorrow bring;
And do your duty as In days gone BY
When farowells flew the breaking hearts to
sting,
Go forth ueain, and II II be TO die,
God grant TT lust a peaceful, swoe. good by;
Good-by, dear boy, good-byl
ID. NJ Jones, In National Tribune
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