Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-02-13
AN ELOQUENT RESPONSE.
COL. CLARK TO THE LADIES or The
". r. c.

bclifOn ana the ACTIVITIES OF tnS EEIeShe
Linked by a Chain of Golden Words
The ladies OF the sewing circle OF
the w. r. c. Of this city recently
purchased an appropriate lamp to be
hung at the entrance Of the Post hall,
and presented it as gift to the Tom
Cox Post and Corps.
These organizations were highly
pleased with the gift and at the last
meeting of the corps a committe from
the post Of which Col Clark was
chairman visited the ladies in their
hall and formally accepted the pres
ent and expressed their appreciation
Of the same. The address Of Col.
Clark was a splendid tribute to the
patriotism and work Of loyal women
during and since the war and is well
worth preserving; through the court
esy of the Colonel we are able TO
present it to our readers in full 1t
is as follows:
MRs. PRESIDENT, LADIES or THE
SEWING CIRCLE OF THE W. k. 9. AND
LADIES or THE w Il. C:-The beauti-
full lamp that you of the sewing circle
presented to the w. Il. g. and to Tom
Cox Post the Post accepts with many
thanks, and instructed Comrades Bax-
ter. Calvin and myself TO respond.
The lamp will be hung upon the
outer wall Of our hall aud will call
attention to the meeting and illumine
the path of the veteran to and from
the Post
The brilliant letters thereon w K.
G. and G. A, r. will remind the world
that as you were with Us in spirit in
1861 and in making sacrifices for the
right, in the dark hours that tried
mems souls. so are you with Us today
when the sunset is drawing nigh TO
the veteran and the shadows are
gathering around him.
You did not share the dangers OF
battle, nor diseases of camp nor the
privations Of long marches; but you
uneomplainingly assumed the burdens
Of caring for yourselves and others
left behind, and bravely kissed loved
ones goodbye, kiss that many Of
YOU and thousands Of others all over
the land were doomed. aud were.
alas, permitted to give or receive
again.
There were lonely and sad hours in
camp and on picket. bus none more
agonizing than the hours when the
little home circles were waiting to
learn who responded At roll call after
battle The brave were at home as
well as on the battlefield.
+. Buchanan Read touched the
chords of every heart when he wrote:
THE BRAVE Az HOME.
'.rhe maid who binds her warriors sash
With smile that well her pain dissemblcs.
The while, beneath her dropping lash,
one starry tear-drop hangs and trembleS.
Though Heaven alone records the tear
And fame shall never know her story
Her heart has shed drop as dear
As ever dcwed the field OF glory
The wife who girds her husbands sword
Mid little ones who weep and wonder.
And bravely speaks the cheering word
What though her heart be rent asunders
Doomed. nightly in her dreams, 70 hear
The bolts Of way around him rattle
HATH shed As sacred blood as Ger
Was poured upon the plain Of battle
The mother who conceals her grief
While Ia her breSt her son she presses
Then breathes few brave words and brief
kissing the patroit brow She blesses
with no one but her secret tod
The know the Pain that weighs upon her.
Sheas holy blood As ee1 the sod
Received on Freedom teId OF honor
You hrayely. sometimes BIZ words,
sometimes by silence when hearts
were too full for utterance, encourage
ed the soldier when responding to
Father Abraham's calls for many
thousands more. The remnant OF the
remnant of that Grand army that re-
turned, even now one-third OF a cen
fury after the war assumed its fierc-
est aspects are and always have been
glad to know that they have Your
sympathy aud support. because all
men are not rs grateful for favors re-
ceiVed rs for favors expected.
The w. r. &. has ornamented and
beautitied our halt for which we are
more than thankful aud this memento
Of the regard and esteem Of your sew
ing circle, the result of Che work az
your own fingers is very thankfully
received and will be highly priced and
carefully preserved. The memory Of
your many kind acts viii tend TO
scatter roses along the pathway Of
veterans who risked their all for their
countryand cheer especially those who
now in adversely are sadly journeyiny
on the downhill side Of life.
There may be Il few here too Young
TO know and realize the terrible strain
that was on the mother. wife. sister
and child, and may add betrothed. of
OF those days when from Bull Run to
Appomottox a steady stream OF $50.
600, strong, rugged men, from shock
OF battle or diseases incident to the
service and in the prison pens OF the
South. were going down 20 their
graves aud another of over 900, 900