The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-06-17
POST MILLS.


Hark list to the deep solemn sound of the bell
knelI,
How il chimes with the tones that as ALWAYS of
old
Are answering responsive down deep in the soul
How its echoes resounding borne forth on the
Floods the soul with emotion that breaks forth
in prayer.
Q grant that the spirit released from its clay,
And along with its echoes borne forth on its way
biest
What SO many have missed here, that sweet
For if ever the brave are admitted up there
Then I'm sure that Tim Dolan its glories will
What only Tim Dolan and all this ado!
he is only a poor crippled pauper, you know.
Yes, only Tim Dolan, the pauper, It's true,
God help this proud county when such things
But who was Tim Doan2 why through all these
Has he numbered the earth to meet scofing and
You saw him a cripple did you know how
You saw him pauper; why had he no home?
The story of Tim is like MANY one,
Who for love of their country had shouldered
their gun,
Laying by their bright hopes through those
long years of strife
And defending their flag gave cen more than
their life.
He was born over yonder lust over that hill
In that beautiful valley just above the old mill
Aud he raced through its meadows and ished
in its streams,
And he sat on its banks and INDUCED in bright
dreams.
He resolved to remember the good he'd been
taught,
And he pondered the deeds that our great men
had wrought;
And he thought how he'd strive when he'd
grown to a man
To do some brave deed that should ring through
v the land.
His mother widow alone with her boy,
l Her comfort, her jewel, her pride and her joy;
She labored both early and late-they were
poor
And she tried hard to keep the gaunt wolf from
the door,
Tim proved bright scholar at work or at play,
In frolics or lessons it was Tim led the way;
And he proved good son every effort he made
His mother in all her proud labors to aid
So the years grew apace till the civil war cry
Burst on us like lightning flashed from the clear
sky,
'Tis true some had wondered if that far away
haze
Near the southern horizon might not break to a
blaze;
But they glanced at their banner folded their
arms,
Sure their flag would protect them, they'd not
Our Tim was in college, twas in his third year,
He was hard at his work, full of courage and
And he wot not of danger to country or home
Nor dreamed of the misery and suffering to
come.
He was suddenly Weakened from out his bright
And the cry of the Enaton drowned all Other
He heard the loud call and he joined in the cry
We are coming, father Abraham, to do or to die
I He was offered commission, but he shoulderec
Y his gun,
! PERHAPS he would wear them when the straps
had been won;
U There are plenty of commissions" said Tim
with bow,
And think that high privates most want
Il ed now"
- So he went with the boys, but he kept his OLE
In everything noble he was first in the race;
And he had a rough time and he marched AM
le he fought,
And he did all he could ana much more than IL
- He was oft without sleep and was oft scan
Uncle Sam sent enough, but twas not Away
l. None can tell all the brave noble deeds he per
- formed
:. He seemed always there when strong place
were stormed,
And when trying one day to see who first shout
reach
The place in a stronghold our cannon ha
Tim strained every nerve to be first in the rae
And twas only his colonel kept up with hi
pace.
In moment our boys were all there on the spc
And were storming the place while the shell an
the shot
Were dropping around them and bursting oe1
head
And were strewing the ground with the dyinl
and dead.
c. Tim was close by colonel with parry ant
% thrust,
81 And was winning his way through the breacl
at to be first,
By two of the rebs who he feared would prevail
He saw one raise his gun for blow on his head
Tim rushed in before and received it instead
Struck senseless and bleeding he lay on tn
While the missiles of death were thick falling
around
- But the battle was Won you COuId tell ny III
That broke forth from the boys, they had ban
ished their fears,
The stronghold was ours that had moCkeu u
Bv the coloneps own hand Tim was borne to tn
with his comrades assisting, while many tea
. Coursed Town their bronze cheeks, for they al
. loved our Tim,
He was born to his tent and was gently lail
His colonel before him on his knees TIL
One hand c1asping his, with the other he reached
For his heart that some faint signs of life h.
The Colonel was praying, then calling on Tim
To speak-then upbraiding for dying for him,
From the woundion his head he must die, the!
/ And one arm was so mangled he would ne'er us
They I;'u used all the means they could think o
with his comrades all anxious to lend him
hand.
For time II seemed sure tnat no HE was lei
there,
ON their faces was setting look of despair,
When by culver of eyelash they were. gladl,
surprised,
As shudder ran through him he opened hi
eyes.
He struggled to rise from the couch where h
\ Did they kill him" he cried, and again swoor
ed away.
well, he lived through it all and with plenty
grit
He would not be discharged-there was fight
. him yet,
So they gave him a sword, for he still had on
hand,
. A commission was his and place of command
SO he led his boys on at Cemetery Hill,
In the Gettysburg fight showed such courag
and skill
That he won good word from his general, wi
said
That through the whole war none had bee
better led
SO on through the wilderness bloody campaig
Where the missiles of death oft were fallir
like rain;
He passed through it all without serious hari
Till the boy often thought that his life must
charmed.
And so on around Richmond they fought
their way,
With battle or skirnish for near every day.
Till one day just before the surrender of Lee,
While leading charge he was shot through
knee.
From thence but a cripple, his fighting W