The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-29
PRETIUM LIBERTATIS.

Long we fingered, till the sunset
Faded to an amber light;
And the wee stars, coyly poeping,
Lit the path of coming night
| fingered till the amber faded
| From the silent shadowy west.
| And the new moon in her beauty
Rose above the mountains crest.
We were talking of the future
And the joys it held i'm store:
When our lives. made one forever,
Should be parted nevermore
| And his words so full of gladness,
Made my loving heart rejoice,
| Till an undertone of sadness
Love detected in his voice.
| Laughingly | rallied him
on his sad and thoughtful air.
Told him that | thought my presence
Ought to Danish every care.
| Then in accents of compassion,
| Underneath the moons pale beams,
| He, my lover. rudely shattered
All my fond and happy dreams.
| Telling me that very evening
| He had joined the patriot band
Who would meet the Spanish forces
And for Right ard Justice stand.
| But" he said to soothe my sorrow;
Let this thought. dear, be your pride
-
And, some day, soldiers bride"
| Through my teas 1 smiled and answered
Choking back the sobs which came:
when you come back with your laurels
I'll be proud to bear your name"
Then in eloquence of silence,
Claspng close each others hand.
| Speaking language which but hearts
speak
And hearts cnly understand.
| Slow the moonlight path we wended,
Leading to my fathers home,
Where, with sad farewell we parted
Till the day of peace should come.
Sorrowing | sought my pillow,
And, with aching heart, | wept.
But i'm youth hope buds and blossoms
And e'er long | sweetly slept.
| When the first faint streaks Of dawning
IIeralded the coming day
I arose, for Just at daybreak
our brave boys would march away.
Mothers. sisters wives and sweethearts,
Aye, and aged fathers too,
Watched that day meath aching eyelids,
The recedng line of blue.
Then returned to homes made lonely,
All to do our duties there,
And to bear at night to Heaven
Each her dear ones name i'm prayer;
TO await with anxious longing,
News from those we loved so well
And receive their first fond missivcs
With Il joy words cannot tell.
Soon the sell of suffering Cuba
With our bravCst hlOod was wet
And no message came to Tighten
Fears that now my soul beset
can 1t be" my sad heart questioned,
THAT I'll see MIN ne'cr again?"
Each day but brought disappointment
And an aCdcd weight of pain.
But at last one pleasant morning,
Ere the flowers their dew had shed,
When the birds mid leafy bowers
Blithely sang above my head
Down the, sunny path | FASTENED.
joys bright smile upon my face,
In my hand the precious letter
To our dear old tryStlng place.
And tho bronklet's gentle murmur
Memories fond and sweet dwoke
As upon its bank reclining
Eagerly the seal | broke.
Words of strength and manly courage.
Words Of tender love and cheer.
Soon dispelled. like summer cloudlets,
Every lingering thought Of fear.
AZ ! read in sweet contentmont
Each line DER ana DER again
Near the close a strange handwriting
Sent a chill through every vein.
7 heard 'the birds chirn DER me
But I scarcely know ! heard,
And the summer breeze urhceded,
All the leaves above me stirred.
All my hone i'm life was ended,
All my JOY forever fed.
For the lOng-C expected letter
SAID the one ! loved was dead.
IT was finished by the comrade
Who had held his dying head
And received the last fond message
For the one he ne'er might wed.
"TeIl her." he had feebly whispered.
"That our last farewell is DER;
We will meet with happy greeting
over on that better shore.
I have given 10 my country
An soldier has TO give:
And at death 7 will not murmur
Though for her I faln would live"
Then his mind had seemed to wander
And he dreamed of love ana home;
Thought we stood beside the stTeamlet
Where so oft we used TO roam;
Dreamed he held once more my fingers
Closely casped within his own,
While he told loves old, sweet story,
In a low and tender tone.
But his pale lips ceased their motion,
And from dreams of home and love-
That brave soldiers ransomed spirit
Passed to realms of light above.
There. whore broezes from the ocean
Touch the land with kisses warm,
With the sod 10 Freedom given,
Covered they his wasted form.
When the years my hair have sllvered,
Softcnrg eVtH grief's deep sigh,
! may Joy that war no longer
Calls our patriots to die.
That above the tYrants' ensign
Lbertys bright banners wave
But my heart for aye lies buried
In soldiers unknown grave.
% lnez Blessing,
Ellnhurst, Pa, Oct. 2S.