The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-31

auisitions. He enumerated some Of the
problems now pressing for solution ana
declared that a policy of conquest Wouid
leave them unsolyed.
A BEAUTIFUL POEM.
Miss Minnie Curtis, of this city, then
read the following beautiful poem:
MEMORIAL DAY, 1898.
"What we do for them may be for
gotten; what they did Cor us, never
With reverent hands we plant the iags
above our gallant dead,
And DER the many grass grown mounds
the fragrant blossoms spread,
Our hearts aglow with gratitude, and
eyes with tear-drops wet;
The debt of love we owe to them we
never can forget.
O dark and bitter was the hour that
made the nation one,
A re-uniting of the bond too strong to
be undOne;
An Iron-wedding of the States, midst
strife and fear and pain,
The witnesses We're spirits of the count
less heroes slain.
There were no sounds Of joy and mirth,
no signs of festal glee,
In place of music, lannon's roar, and
shrieks of agony;
No flowers, no smiles, no tender words,
no clear and sunny skies,
But bleeding wounds, and breaking
hearts, and tears and groans and
signs;
A fearful welding of the bond an awful
price to pay
For peace and harmony that seemed be-
yond all reach that day
For who could hope that happiness would
Phoenix-like arise
From bitter ashes of the past.-frPm
such grim marriage-ties?
Thank God! the healing hand of Time,
the softening touch of years
Has soothed the many aching wounds,
and banished doubts and fears:
Where thorns have hourished flowers
spring up, and kindly thoughts hold
sway,
For strife is past, and Peace has come,
and Love now rules the day.
We saw, we felt, we knew this truth, az
lic TT We Hdu DtIOIes
When home ward came our hero-dead,
from far-off Cuba's shore;
From thence to Plymouth Rock there
swept one thrilling tide of woe,
And Southern palms, and Northern pines.
breathed forth n requiem low.
The North and South clasped hands
above the first brave martyrs bier;
They both could claim him,-Pigrim
blood was blent with Chevalier!
Such fine cOmmingling forces met to knit
that sturdy frame,
70 mould that brave heroic soul, who
won deathless name!
The love of Freedom that beat strong
within that Pilgrim sire.
Throbbed in this true young patriot
breast with pure and holy fire,
And nerved his hand to do its best for
crushed humanity,
TO right 4 cruel, grievous wrong, and
set people free.
United now MS ne'er before, a Nation
mourns to-day,
For meath "Old Glory" sleeps the son
Of one who wore the gray.
So loving, gentle faithful, good; 50
strong, so brave, so true,
America may well rejoice in noble sons
like you!
And well may feel a confidence, unshak-
en-, steadfast, sure,
That even to the end of Time, this Ma
ton shall endure:
And though her peace be broken now,
and wars rude sounds asSail,
In calmest trust await the time when
justice shall prevail;
Since not for selfish greed or gain she
yields her mighty power.
Her righteous cause will swiftly bring Il
glad triumphant hour.
As through some fabric dark and rough
a silver thread may shine,
We see already in this cloud all hearts
viii closer Irvine.
Sweet compensations spring from out
each trial dark and drear,
The common cause appeals to all, and
swiftly draws men near;
Through jarring strains one silver note
with sweetness softly glides,
1--WE are a band Of brothers now" re.
echoes on all sides.
The breach is healed, the chasm crossed
"Old Glory waves above
A noble brotherhood who meet close in
the ranks of love;
And heart to heart they march away,
the loyal sons and true,
OF those who once were far apart who
wore the gray and blue.
And eyes of veterans flash with pride,
though tear-drops swiftly fall,
At sight of these brave soldier-lads who
heed their country's call
o sweet is home, and sweet is life to
every true young heart,
But sweeter still, when duty calls. to
brayely do ones part!
God bless our lads, and bring them home
to loving hearts that wait:
The lads who show what courage dwells
within the "Old North Slater
For those who fall,-what tears will flow!
what bitter grief hold sway.
! What tender hands will dacly a. ,,,o,,nds