The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-12-15
ABSOLUTELY PURE

No bells are tolled for him. No civic train
Nor trailing flags, nor muffied martial strain
Attest the passing of the poor mans bier:
No pomp. no pageantry of woe is here:
No kin or kindred follow to the tomb. ..s4
In meek solemnity for gifts to come. as
Nor hasten home impatient of delay
To read his will. and quarrel DER his clay.
No holding p1umes exultant Of display:
No thronging crowds obstruct the narrow way
No cavalcade Of mourners prone to show
And felgn the SORROW they can never know:
Nor wealth nor grandeur come to deck the
tomb -
Where his poor lump of clay at last finds room.
The only tears are from the weeping skies.
The moaning winds alone give voice to signs;
The only flowers upon that coffin lid = =
Where these old bones in poverty are hid. s
October'S wlthered leaves that falling, rest
In fitting tribute on the poor mans breast;
Kind Natures gift. she garlands with her
leaves H. 80
This humble grave, and only Nature grieves.
Ungrateful world; have men so soon forgot
The charity that gave and questioned not,
Except to know that want and need we're there:
And his the bounty that relieved despair
When Pestilence stalked forth at dead of night,
VI
fright, 80 "a
When Death was busy and Contagion flung
His deadly mlldeW over old and young +:
So fatal was the scourge that those who tried
To robe the dead but persisted by their side
And thousands. strong in health at morning
light, t. 80
Were stricken down and COINED ere the night.
When panic seized the town and terror fed
Leaving the dying to entomb the dead
Who stood by duty in that fearful time, s
When help was danger and desertion crime:
Who ministered to want when hope was low.
benefactor in the home OF woe: i
Who sought the howell and the palace door
To minister alike to rich and poor:
To nurse the dying and convey the dead
Alone at night-fall to their narrow bed.
Who found in yonder home Of stately pride
The husband dead beside his sleeping bride:
And in that nut where love had found nest
The babe was nursing it's dead mothers breast9
| Who moved by pity sought to shield and save
And fought with Death to barricade the grave?
Twas he whom We this day commit to earth;
But that was long ago, ere pride had birth r. +,
| And generations keep no register of worth. $ :
When Treason struck the blow and Wars
+ + alarms gsss..-;s y>-,.-.. q 81 ,''ts "a.
Aroused the Nation by appeal to arms. = Is p
When Industry forsook the arts of peace, -
And craven wealth INDUCED the art tofeece-
When millions sprung to arms the young. the
brave, 81. @- 7.s
To throttle treason Or to find q grave.
In every valley were the camps of war.
On every Southern hilltop blazed afar
The fires of carnage and the smoke of strife.
And in the balance hung the Nations life.
Three hundred thousand had gone down before,
And yet the Nations needs demanded more;
Wives gave their husbands. mothers gave their
g sons. -. : ',.|.s -: - =
And maids. betrothed gave up their dearer
With strong brave hearts. and tears that fell
- like rain- - - --&3z =
When hope forbade that they should meet
= again; So / - -
The only hope their breaking hearts could
share -.i.. -'.
That God was infinite to answer prayer.
Who was the soldiers friend in those dark
days, Ss...s-. H..