The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-03-19

hO tllCU, III du-
dltion to its historical value, is of such
local character as to prove interest
ing to our readers, has been taken
from the Richmond Dispatch of Febru.
airy %, 1896:
SUFFOLK, VA, Feb. 14th, 1896.
Having noticed the call for the re-
publication of the poem entitled The
Dying Soldier" it gives me great
pleasure to furnish for your columns
an exact copy of the pathetic compo-
sltion. as it was originally written by
"Matilda" and sent by her to Lizzie. -
| may add that / have obtained this
copy from ''Lizzie" herself, who is still
living, and resident of this place. Be
tore | proceed to give an account of It's
origin, let US all read the poem once
more. Here it is:
The Dying Soldier.
BY MATILDA.
fAffectonately inscribed to Lizzie A.
Christie
lColonel Christie, of North Carolina,
fell mOrtally wounded at the battle of
Gettysburg while gallant1y leading his
men against the breastwOrks. He was
taken to Winchester. Va, where he was
nurSed tenderly until his death He
IOnged to see his darling Lizzie but when
she reached Winchester he was dead. His
last words were: kiss me for LizZie."
The bravest are the tenderest
The loving are the daring"
| am dying; is she coming? Throw the
window open wide,
Is she coming? Oh, love her more than
all the world beside;
In her young and tender beauty, must oh!
must she feel this loss?
Savior, hear my poor petition; teach her
how to bear this cross.
Help her to be calm and patient when
mOulder in the dust;
Let her say and feel, my Father, that Thy
ways are true and just.
Is she coming? Go and listen; would see
her face once more;
| would hear her speaking to me- ere life 5
feVered dream is DER;
| would fold her to my bosom; look into
her soft, bright eye;
l would tell her how | love her, kiss her
once before | die
Is she coming? Oh! It's evening, and my
darling comes not still.
Lift the curtain: it grows darker; it is
sunset on the hll
All the evening dewS are falling; am
cOld-the light is gone,
Is she coming? Softly, softly comes death S
silent footsteps on.
l am going; come kiss me; kiss me for my
darling wife;
Take for her my parting blessing take the
last warm kiss of life.
Tell her | will wait to greet her where
the good and lovely are,
In that home, untouched by sorrow; tell
she must meet me there.
Is she coming? Lift the curtain; let me see
the failing light;
Oh. | want to live to see her; surely she
will come tonight
Surely, ere the daylight dieth l shall fold
her to my breast;
With her head upon my bosom, calmly l
could sink to rest
1t IS hard to die without her Look,
think she's coming now;
| can almost feel her kisses on my faded
cheek and brow;
l can almost hear her whisper, feel her
breath upon my cheek.
lIark, | hear the front door open. Is she
coming? Did she speak!
No, we'll drop the curtain softly, | shall
see her face no mOle
Till see it smiling on me on the bright
and better shore.
Tell her she must come and meet me in
that Eden. land of light;
Tell her I'll be waiting for her where
there is no death-no night
Tell her that called her darling, blessed
her with my dying breath,
| Come and kiss me for my Lizzie; tell her
love Outlivesh death.