Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-03-09

! NO matter, WncU L ncuTu sn0t VCrItCt read.
| i wished with oil my heart that was dead
How could ever nerve my heart to go
And tell his mother, who had loved him so'
~ didn't know Jest what to say or do
| They gave me leave of absence, an drew
| My scanty pay, an started whittier bent
| didn't try to reulize-iest intent
| On getting aid somewhcre letters bore
| 10 the commanding general OF the corps,
| To senators an governors, an one
Addressed to 'Abram Lincoln Washington
with faiuting hear: sought each man whose
| name
Was said to make or mar hero's fame
"They kindly spo,ie-told me TO wait: they sent
| My papers to those near the president;
But one by one they all came back, no sign
| OF hope to me in any cruel line,
Only the words that showed no heart was
moved
The sentence Of hs court has been approvsi'
~ wrote his mother, an said My dear,
| God has forSaken us an ours, fear
| Weary an sick an growing gray an bent,
I'm going 10 try to see the president,
An then give Il up an you an
Had better lay our old bones down an die
"They wouldn't let me in although told
MY story to them; men are mighty cold
When griefs are common, as they were lest
then,
An all sought favors OF the tongue or pen;
But was watching, an one pleasant day
saw the Lincoln carriage drive away
An in an hour return ut rapid rate
An turn In quickly at the white house gate
at rolled up swiftly to the entrance door,
An he stepped out. his eyes upon the floor:
His lips were moving as II in his mind
Some question he debated. but his kind
An gentle face-wall! 1t invited me,
An was starting forward eagerly,
When Jest as had almost reached his side
They roughly called to me to stand aside
"He glanced once at the officer so grim,
While looked up beseechingly at him
Then said; Who is the mani What would he
do2'
Only soldier said they after an interview
Only soldier, said he. mustngly,
'Periliug his life for liberty!
Only soldier! Marching near an far,
Fighting the battles OF this awful war.
Come in, my man! Thank God, 20 speak to me
You need no other name or pedigree
An then he led me In an up the stair
While ministers an generals waited there
II told him with the sobs half choking me,
The story OF my grief an misery.
His face was sad and furrowed with oare
That had never seen q mortal wear;
But still he listened, an he bowed his head
Sometimes at what felt or what / said
iiO AOpNcu lilS papers over carefully,
Then turned an, smiling, gently said to me:
They say we must be stern II we would win:
That pardons are the death OF discipline:
But still think the country would survive
with that boy loose and running round alive
So far's our meas concerned. why, Heaven
willing.
Well let the other fellows do the killing
You tell him. though, count on him to light,
An prove that they are wrong and was right
To bravcly serve, 10 die, too, II need be,
For Gods great boon OF human liberty
An then he wrote: This sentence dIsap-
proved!
While sat there an hardly breathed or
moved;
An then saw him add, my old eyes ollnkn':
Restored to his company. A. LINCOLN
jest there was where lost my grip. my ny:
couldn't say the first derned thing-jest cry
An wiring his hand an tremble like the nation,
Instead OF making, so to speak, a brief Grafton
An thanking him IA promising to stand,
Both me an Billy, till the blessed laud
Was saved. No, sir: lost my head.