The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-19
AT GETTYSBURG.


Oct. n. 1885,. on the occasion Of the dedi-
cation of the tablet OF the One Hundred
and Forty-third Pennsylvania volunteers,
by Edward A. Niven.1
Behold today these hills serene and fair!
Upon whose crowns soft fails the dew of
peace;
These stately, solemn ridges where
In days agone the blaze and battle glare
And hurtling shot and shell
Made here a furious hell.
Where cannon roared and all the air
Rang with the awful echoes of dismay;
Rang In the night and through the furious
day.
Rang while the blood of patriots ebbed
away.
Here men made mad with fighting met
And charged like demons on the crimson
l.. field;
Here Hopes fair star arose and quickly
set,
Such changing ,i,aI9 fortune did the dark day
Here fury built on fury. and the ear
Grew dumb to all save shout and roar
Like deafening thunders on an angry
Broke the wild surges of the swaying tide,
That left Its crimson tokens everywhere;
On ridge. In woodland and the meadows
clear,
whereer battalions fought and brave men
At Gettysburg.
Behold today these hills serene and fair!
No more We view Wars horrid front. no
more
The changing sabre and the flying hair
| on trooper hurrying to carve his way
Through walls Of fire to fortune or dis
may.
No more the night breaks into blaze and
roar
And yells defiant pierce the gloomy air.
| Startling the soldier dreaming for an hour
or home and peace and joys that centered
Changed is the view. and like a gentle
dove
Peace broods upon the place instead.
Soft are the stars that deck the blue above
When Night rolls on her car and slum-
| ber brings
Its need of glad refreshment; the morn
Ing sings .-..Hr
Its songs, ana night croons requiems fol-
| the dead
At Gettysburg.
Behold today this scene! The passing
Have soothed the sorrow and the crue
| sense
OF grief and pain. and Gods omnipotenct
Transformed to jewels bright u nation .
| tears,
As out OF chaos the awful penalties % wal
Came glad rewards, richer for their blood
bought
Heritage-atonement for each scar.
Behold the flag! Its splendid beauty
Serenely DER land OF love and light:
No more 1t mocks the pensive prayer o!
| slaves
The ancient bondsman halls 1t with de
| light.
The dawn Of greater glory for the land.
Broke when the sounds of sorry battle
ceased
Upon these hills; by Fortunes stern com
| The hopes of mourning millions were In
| creased
At Gettysburg.
High tide at Gettysburg! Beneath rs
crimson wave
| Full many Il patriot found a hero's grave
| Here on the eve of Independence Day
| The starry banner futtered In dismay,
| Opposing legions Graded meath its glow
Strove to defeat or gain its overthrow.
| oh veterans gray, Is not that day
Like hideous nightmare to your view?
| Here on this line in grim array
| You stood, while Pickett's maddened crew
Rushed on TO pierce your stubborn center
| through
Here. where today you place the tablet
gray,
That evermore shall tell In night or day
| The story of the fury and the fray.
Shall gather children OF the coming years
From North and South, and East and
| West.
And ninging in one common How Q:
| tears,
Shall pay tribute to the dead who rest
AT Gettysburg.
the past
oh slim battalion of this later day.
| Nhat was II neryed you at the very last
When hope TO grim despair gave way.
To bare year breasts against the fierce at
| tack
And In the end. drive the invaders back
What impulse moved your ranks tha
| day?
Was It remembrance of the patriot sires
Who braved the foe and cleared tn,
| For Freedonms flashing altar fires
| That made our Independence Day?
| Whate'er IL was its silent force was there
Responsive we're the VOWS that rose OF
high -
| You bade defiance to the wild despair
And forward plunged to win or nobly die
And when the carnage ceased and nigh
| came on
| 1t saw another victory for Freedom won
AT Gettysburg.
But hush' The grave gives up It's dead
and here
| In spirit ranks. as II ON grand review
| They pass. See at their head, with nobl,
mien and clear
Reynolds and Hancock. gallant men and
true.
| And Doubleday and Dana, soldiers brave
Who led their proud ba.talons TIL the day
Closed. and night changed your dismay
To widest Joy, for Lee had lost the fight
And DER these hills his broken corps took
flight.
oh hills. that once to dread alarms awoke
Yelled in the murky mists and battle
smoke.
Where death played havoc on those Sum
mer nights.
The years of peace have kissed you and
you smile.
The dews of love have washed your
grefs away.
The lark, returning. chirps his merry lay
And gladness broods in every sylvan aisle
Gone are the cannon and the broken
wheel.
And daisies hide the crlimbing parapet
Aslant the meads the rosy shadows steal
And hill and vale are In their splendor
/. set
Only the shafts that sparkle In the sun,
Only the billows of the unknown dead
Recall today the deeds OF valor done.
The glory that on his'try's page was
spread
AT Gettysburr