Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1895-06-07
drandpa's Memorial Day Story.


urandpa'S Memorial Day story.
HYn. s. sTannAEn
Young Johnny sat on his grandsirr's knee
A. the column passed the door
Aud haitcl az the church ard. where
IL stopped the year before.
The vrteran's mind ran back apacr.
tear hrdimmed his eve
Aud Johnny looking upward said.
Grandpa, what makes yuu cry
Last year they scattered flowers upon
The graves ct some who died.
But YOU was lame and couldn't go
Aud just sat here and cTird.
And grandpa when saw YOU cry
And asNrd you what twas tor
You said when I was old yuuu IN
You'd tell me bout the war.
"Now grandpa. amt I old enough?
You know last June Is four.
can remember all you say.
l needn't wait NO more.
Yes Johnny, .yill tell YOU now.
You need not longer wait.
For ere another May comes round
] may have passed the gate
1T was. my child. long years ago,
When ! was Just man,
About as old as uncle Charlcs-
Remember u you can.
There was a long and cruel war
That lasted iuur tull years,
Aud things that remembered then
nave hllGl my Eyes Win lCAt~s
our country had some enemies.
Who lived in southern lands,
And to destroy this nation, child.
They fought with bloody hands.
They fought with sword and bayonct
With cannon shot and shell.
And from their whistling bullets too
Many Il hero fill.
your grandpa then was in his prime.
Not lame as now, and old,
Aud such were needed in those days
To night those SOuthrous bold.
How gloomy were those dreadful days!
Dear boy ne'cr can tell
How sadness, grief and woe upon
Many an hOuScEO old fell.
For fathers. husbands. brothers, sons,
We're called to go and Tight,
To save this glorious nation, child,
To liberty aud rig.t.
"One day your grandpa signed his name
To IN the army 60,
And with the scores of other men
To tight our couutry'S foe.
And when few more DAYS had passed
The time was set TO start,
Then every eye was filled with tears,
With sadness every heart.
Your grandpa looked upon the couch
Where his two children slept,
Snatched from your grandnu's lips kiss
Nor wondered why she wept.
Then off to southern battle fields
The army marched away,
And in those four long years Of war
Saw many bloody tray.
And grandpa's comrades, noble boys,
Fell in that deadly strife,
But not in vain for by their blood
Was saved the nations life.
And when the victory was won,
Ths cruel war all DER,
The broken. shattered ranks came home,
Not as they went before;
For Zed went out at Fredericksburg.
And Joe at Malvern Hin.
And James was killed at Gettysburg,
And Henry, Charles and viii.
AT Cedar Creek and Petersburg,
Coriuth and Shiloh too.
They fell in scores, those noble boys,
Where rebel bullets flew
And on an hundred bnttle fields
Those men 81 loyal. true.
Went down like autumn'S early leaves,
My comrades of the blue
They fell in east they fell IN west,
ON river. lake and sea.
On Northern hills and Southern plains
They died tor liberty.
And some were buried on the fields
Where they so nObly fell,
And some sleep in the ChurChN ard where
Those starry markers tell.
And Johnny, when they come to deck
The graves where comrades sleep,
And think over how they died
Don't wonder that l weep.
Now all ask is when I'm gone
They'll gather round my grave
And scatter flowers, and say, here's one
Who fought this land to save
"Now Johnny have told to you
As short rs ! could tell
The story how in years agonc
My comrades fought and fell.
And Johnny as the wears roll on
And rs YOU older grow,
And learn to read and write and more
About your country know,
II hope you'll learn to ever love
The land that gave YOU birth
Above all lands in east or west
Upon this rolling earth.
and when Memorial days come round
And their sad mem rics bring.
On grandpa's and his comrades graves
Youll place the flowers Of spring"
Young Johnny listened to this tale
Like one above his wears,
| And when his grandsire ceased to speak
His eyes were filled with tears.
oh grandpa" said the prattling boy
Your story is so grand;
III love my country too and fight
For home and native land.
And when Memorial days are here
Their sacred mem ries keep;
| On grandpa'S grave I'll drop tear
And where his comrades sleep.
"I'll love my country and her nag,
| III love the good and true,
| III love the men who tor us fought
The gallant boys in blue"
Waitsfeld, Vt, May so 1898.