Evening star., 1898-05-31
MEMORY OF DEAD COMRADES.

MEMORY OF DEAD COMRADES.
original Poem Read by DR.. Chapel
at Oak Hill Cemetery.
The following poem, written by DR.. J
V. Chappell, was read yesterday by it
uthor at Oak Hill cemetery, in George
own, being a feature of the Decoration
ay exercises:
ines in Memory of Our Departe,
Comrades.
This resting plsee meath trees that rise
Like pillars toward the sky,
An ever open gateway seems
To tenting grounds on high.
This conscious earth upon whose breast
Our dear beloved boys
But sleep till they march on renewed
With highest hopes AMI joys,
In each returning springtime, spreads
veIdure fair to view,
And later dots the velvet pail
With bloom Of every hue.
These oaks, each year, don robes Of green
And their protecting shade
Enfolds these mounds that mark the spot
Where priceless spoils are laid.
Amid the foliage warblers rest
From flights near realms above,
To sing the songs they've heard on high.
In wondrOus notes Of love.
The gentle zephyrs hither watt.
From yoh celestial shore.
Sweet whisperings, like angel-words,
From loved ones gone before.
Yon stream while slowly vending by
This scene of sacredn,ss,
requiem chants and leaveth here
He touch If tenderness
And here away from worldly strife,
Forever, Peace doth dwell,
Foreshadowing the eternal rest,
Beyond where all is well,
Where breaks the light that will dispel
The clouds in Histoiy's sky
And pierce the veil that has been drawn
Ger wars strange mystery.
Ger fields beside the lowly tents
OF slumbereIs today
We place fair fCral pillows made
Through smiles and tears of May,
And mingle with The perfume rare,
Their sweetest blossoms give,
Our songs of love and praise for those
Who died that we might live
In peace and in tLat Erothe rhood,
Known Cnly to the free
Who died content that friend and foe
Might reap The victory.
No deeds that fame can e'er enscron
Upon the walls of time
Can dim the lasting glory of
Such sacrifice sublime
Such sacrifice Of sacred life,
Mid battles dreadful Ioar
Where wounds from saber, shot and shell
Make winding sheets of gore;
Where Death holds ghastiy carnival
Mid scenes OF grief, despair,
While, uniismayed, and h, edng not
Sweet Mercy's pi:yi-g prayer;
Where nee beneath u crimson pail
Is left u sign trace
Or friendships tears or touch of love
Upon the dying face.
Then long patriotic hearts
Shall throb in human breasts
Well with the wreaths of vctory's palm
Our gratitude attest.
.
1t is not life that's fraught with love,
Ambition, hope and bl ON,
But wars dread carnage famine, woe,
We would today entomb;
Nor do the ever-silent camps,
Where myriad tents are spread,
Need any reiniorcements from
Mad battles onward tread:
Then may yon cloud of war dissolve
Before the .'blue and gray
Ere 1t shall food our land with tears
Time ne'er can wipe away.
But unto those who late have found,
Unwarned, watery grave
Where love with bios ne'er can keep
The watch above the wave
We will a monument erect
Engtaven with design,
On Cuban soil-sweet Freedom tits,
And fresh from hand Divine.
And he shall share these honors. who
Was first among the slain
To pIove that there's no North, no South,
When common foe is SPAIN
o veterans dear. each rolling year,
Across the line ahead,
Thy comrades march, and mournfully,
Thy army's lessening tread
When We shall hear no more
The music of thy faithful march
On lifes declining shore.
But when is heard the last tattoo,
The last low countersign,
There ther will be Reunion day
Within the safety line,
Where conflict signals never fash,
But flags Of peace e'er wave,
And flowers bloom, but wither not,
Beside a comrades grave.
And sacred shall your memory be.
And we will guard with pride
Your well-worn, war SCARED armor
When 1t is laid aside;
And o'er its resting place shall wave
That trinity Of hue.
The emblem for one God. one land,
One flag, for Gray Blue.
DECLARE MARTIAL Law
)uty of the Local Authorities at Ke,
West.