Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1901-06-13
THE GRAY PILGRIMS.
Lisss Written BY . Cssfedr.te vsssv~s
Dedicated 10 MS Cosrsdes Of
the Lsss Cause.


twritten for the Memphis Reunlon.l
whence eometh all these r.rrims In To
pleasant month u Nav
And wherefore d. these sg-d men ts~srd
Memphis ~end their ~syi
With shrunksn francs. and agur-s heat,
and faces Starred and Old
Seek they som- Memphisn oracle. thelr
future 10 unfoldf
rhsss men are they ~no wore the gray Ia
The future dos not trouble them-their
dutys nohiy done.
Their hair !. srant. their heards are gray.
their shoulders bent and rsupa
But fame. with laurel and wtth kay.
each hcsry head hath crowned
II was not thus that they appeared .sr-
forty years awD.
When heaith and strength we're In their
limbs, their veins with youth srinw
They hrmly stood In ->rri-d rsaks. zach
I'D In Gray aftirvf.
Their eyes we're bright. their muscles
tense. their hearts 18th ardor nr~d.
For when upon their mother soil the proud
Invader tired.
Each , , rushed 20 met the foe and
They heard the Southlsnd's trumpet cali
and Answered veil the blast
The young. the old they mustered all
each fearful he'd be last.
It's hard. Indeed o. realize that these In
this array.
Are men who under Johnston. Lee and
Jackson wore the Gray.
Tor they ~ a. small "a common men :
whereas their deeds % old
Would seem To say. Who wore the GRAY
were east In giant mold"
And these same old decrepId men are
some who In that day
OF fearful frstricidsl strife. did all that
mortals may
cause thev loved fuiI we'll
rcrchsnee from their old feeble threats
we'll hear the Rebel YELL
But twin not rISe In thunder tones. q.
once N did. for<ooth
For Time has shriiled their vocal chords.
while rohbinx them of youth:
Nor will u voice the fierce. Wild Ire. born
Of the battles rax-
Yet viii IT mark the patriot nre-their
ehildrens heritage
But It's not age alone that dIms the Iusier
of their eyes.
Nor lung Impaired that eauseth them to
utter mutiied signs
Their thoughts today are far away on
events Of the psst:
They think Of those they'll meet M more
I'll Gabriel sounds his blast
They think Of those who with them faced
the sleet Of shot and she'll
And drowned the roar % battl. with q
ringing Rebel Yell -"
OF those who. boys In point 81 aye In
point Of war were Vets
Who dauntle<s braved the lannon's mouth
and feared not bayonets.
They think Of thoss who fighting fell with
pierced and bleeding breast.
OF mOssy mounds on many fields who're
valiant comrades rest
Anon You'll hear qufv ring sigh escape
some Pilgrim Gray.
And furtive hand will seek the eye to
brush tear away
And when the Angel Gabriel sounds the
final revetlle
Assemble on the Colors." next the signal
call will 10.
they will gather with their scars
And they'll veil in ioyfuI chorus under.
meath the stars and Bars.
And they'll sing the song Of Dixie as they
form their last array.
And their feet will heat the cadence as
they march upon their way.
And when good Saint Peter challenges
a. sentry At the Gates.
They'll proudly give the countersign
We're x-Confederates.-
Then will IDLY old Saint Peter give n
each welcome hand
saying. II hav heard that hsathsn gods the
TitanS did Withstand.
But I fear celestial ramparts wouldn-
fare verv we'll
Should these Pilgrims Grav aS<aII them
with their old time Rebel Yell
Carthage Miss. l. MArRY GARRETT