The National tribune., 1902-03-27

They swore they'd bust the Union up,
And pull the old flag down;
But 'mong the boys who said ''yor
Was me and Sandy Brown.
For three long years together
We had slept and marched and fit,
Through battles and through
Scrimmages and nary one got hit,
When, JiSt about the winding up,
And Richmond most in view,
DoS-OGd OF Sandy didn't fail,
Shot plumb clean through and through.
There want no time for fooling there,
As, through the flame and smoke,
The Devil seemed to help them rebs
To flank u.s. and we broke
While on both sides many fell
or courage and renOWn,
There wasn't a man with braver heart
Nor this same Sandy Brown.
Now this is the place where the
Miracle comes in,
Convincing me beyond Il doubt
The dead Will rise agin;
My brother Daniel writ and said
The indiany boys
would gladly welcome comrades
From the State of Illinois,
l knew that Dan had jined
The Church, and wouldn't lie straight
out,
But when l read what followed,
must say / was put out;
For there in black and white it sed,
Jest as he put it down,
That If I'd come, both live and well,
I'd meet old Sandy Brown.
The harvesting was over,
And the thrashin' want begun,
And / thought as how I'd
Kinder like to have a little fun;
So | SEE, Mother, now," sez |,
jest pack my leather grip
with doughnuts, bread and sausages
Enough TO stand trip
l never seed campment now,
Fer nigh on thirty years,
And I'm agOin' to this one
If it costs a yoke Of steers.
But agin pair of Oyerlis
III bet bran new gown,
That Dan was lyin' when he sed
I'd meet old Sandy Brown.
l da'cent stop to tell you half
That happened on the way,
But / sized up all red-headed men,
| met from day to day.
| tramped all through the streets
And camps until my feet were sore
Till, discouraged and most out of heart,
| vowed I'd tramp no more;
But when the big parade begun,
I'd take stand somewhere,
And spot old Sandy as he passed
PrOvidin' he was there;
So there | stood and capped. and gawked,
Just like some fool or clown.
While thousands passed on foot and boss,
But nary Sandy Brown.
At last the Indiany boys
Came prancin' down the street;
L couldn't cheer to save my life,
But kept time with both feet.
With steady step they marched along
sight most grand to see,
When / noticed one old grizzly vet
keUt lOOkil' straight -t IN
Gray haired and feeble though he seemed,
Yet when he came close by
1 kinder edged up close enough
To look him In the eye.
When as if by magnetic flash,
From meath that snow white crown,
Went thrills of joy, convincing me
I'd met Old Sandy Brown.
/ took one bony hand in mine,
My arm around his neck,
"Old Pard, God bless you is this your
With vice-like grip.
He grasped my hand and held II. o. so
tight
While tears rolled down his furrowed
cheeks,
He told me I was right
There We stood and shook hands
Till we made the muscles crack,
And every squeeze that Sandyd give,
I'd give another back,
While hustled in sacred silence
Stood the people all around
THANK GOd! seZ he, you've met
What's left of Comrade Sandy Brown"
The bands were playin' army tunes,
| never heered note
DoggOne my cats if sompin'
Wasn't stickin' in my throat.
/ .5uldn't say n word
I'd sputter, sneeze and cough
That dog gone lump would Just rise up,
And choke the words c.ean of
Well the 'campment'S over now,
And the boys are home agin.
The last, perhaps, of thousands.
The next one they'll be in will be
Where angels dressed in blue
VIII wear golden crown,
A lit reward for loyal men,
Like Uomrade Sandy Brown