New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-11
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Letters have been received from A. Mandevile,
William j. Houghton, Mrs. NJ. s. Cur'ss' NJ W.
Catlln, *. B. c." and Alexander H. SIMPLIFY. Ire
Presiden;-Gen wishes TO thank Helen NJ Curtiss
for the charming little favors which were received
this morning They are novel and attractive. ana
will give much pleasure to those to whom they VIII
be sent Miss Curtiss is indefatigabe Sunshine
worker and ore of It's sunnest members.
A box of beautiful lilac blooms was also received
this morning but as no name was attached, the
President General does not know to whom thanks
are due. Will not the sender please write and In
close name? The flowers came In excellent order
and are much appreciated.
President General OF the T. s. s.: | beg 10
acknowledge the receipt of your favor, with MEM
bershp badge of the T. S. S. inclosed am pIeaseu
to know that you have found my article worthy OF
space I'm the Sunshine Column and ! am justly
proud that 1t has earned for me the honor OF being
admitted to membership in the T. s. 3, whose badge
will always wear side by side with that OF the
Grand Army of the Republic | am convinced the
article will be the of bringing Joy. peace ana
resignation under of lifes heaviest Affections to
MANY who like myself. are doomed to perpetual
night send you short pocm The Blind Chap
Iains Prayer" in the hope that you may be able to
It also in the Sunshine Column The lines
were written In 1898, about year ard hair after
the death of my devoted wife. and before ! had
learned to read or write. The Prayer" was pub
llshed in "The Eagle" in the winter Of that year
and reprinted ;he following summer In The
Grand Army Journal" from which paper the clip
Won Would send M COW e. The Tribune whrn the
article How ;he Blind May Learn u Read" ap,
pears. Sincerely thanking you for your Kindness,
am truly yours WILLIAM j. GIOUGtTON.
PATHETIC PATRIOTISM
Wa% a oGghSn '9G F rsn qd 5hf pos Ho
It, G.. n. r.. of Brooklyn. lie IS totally blind, lie
was paymasters clerk in me United states Nav
est member in his post Eight years ago he lost
by the death of his devoted wife little year
ago he eh1Pns Gervep f ho n rG' maj sh res 1
nation are hereby feengly expressed:
THE BLIND CHAPIAIN's PRAYER.
0 God of lisht shed one bright ray
For through lifes rugged path the way
To me is dark a. Esypts night.
No dawn is breaking in the east
No brightness marks approaching day.
No golden sunset in the west
Reflects one beam one parting ray
Lord. hear my prayer dspel this cloud.
Whose shadow DER my life h asa. cast
Its checrless gloom and lowly bowed
My soul in sadness TO the aust
In darkness wrapt the at noon
Fails now to give one geam OF light,
While tWinklng stars and placid moon
Have faded from the dome OF night
O Lord send light 70 pierce the gloom
Which, like the sable pail of night
Obscureg the day; the silent tomb
Cannot more closely ven the hsH|
.Twere vain the loss to estimate
OF those who are beref OF sight
our loss We learn. alas too latei a.,
When from us blessings take their his"''
And sad II Is 10 contemplate
life thus doomed. deprived OF hshI
No other sense compensate
our loss when fails the sense or slsht.
or sorrows cup tho drers I've drained;
All lows have faded from my life;
The brightest last. when death had claimeu
My faithful and devoted WE
When darkness round my life had closed
And SORROWS blight had done its part
A rninistering angel she had proved, $1,000,
Though sorrow bowed her own brave heart
O memory. in your wayward night
ia back my spirit Ger the past
To wears whose future seemed so nrlEnt,
With her whose love those years had blest
With life remains the hope that springs
Eterna, in the human breast;
To this last hope my heart still clings
Ny life may yet with light be blessed
To mercy's throne | daily send
This earnest prayer for light TO come;
But II this life must sightless end,
o Lord. Thy WILL not mine. be done