The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-10
WAR POEMS.
Second and Concluding Article
' On This Subject.

T. Z. . n : e q q i h . .
written for The ,Tlmes-D Dispatch by Mrs
M. W. Darly0
The late Or. George ". Bagby, OF Rich
mond. though known in.Jllterary circles
chiefly as humorist; was yet possessed
Of a poettcal vein, as IS evidenced IN his
poem on '""Tha Empty Sleeve" which !
subjoin. 2. .,tass
Tom old fellow; i grieve to sec
That sleeve Hanging loose ut your s'ae.
Is Every CT Yankee co thai, ever died.
But you don't mind 1t, Mt all;
You sweIr youvetta beautiful stump,
And laugh at the dnmnable ball
a right good arm, a nervy hand,
4 A wrist as strong as q saplng oak.
Buried deep on ths Malvern .ar.,, SAND ne.
Never, ag,n your iron grip 3
4 Shall feol on my shrinking palm
rom, Tom, I sec your Trembling lip
How on earth can be calm?
But the one that is nearest the heart
Is left and thatslas good as two.
Tom. old fellow, what makes you START
A badge of honor: so do |.
And all Of us. I do believe
The fellow Is going to cry.
"shc deserves n perfect man. you say.
You were not worth her in your prime.
Tom, that arm that has turned to clay
Your whole body has made sublime.
For you have placed on Malvern 9 earth
The proof and pledge OF noble HE,
And the rest henceforward OF higher
worth SF b
viii be dearer than all to your wife"
4 he rpnnln the gtren9t#
Look at your sleeve with klndlins eyes,
And know you, Tom, there's naught so
sweet
AS homage shown on mute surniso.
Bravely your arm In battle strove;
Truly for freedoms sake you gavo It.:
II has persisted, but a nations love
In proud remtmbrance Will save It."
Go to your sweetheart then forthwith;
You're fool for staying so long.
Woman's love you'll find no myth,
But truth tender. loving and strong.
And when around her slender belt.
Your left arm is clasped In fond en-
Your right will thrill. as If it felt,
In its grave the usurpers place"
..As look through the coming years
see q one-armed married man.
A little woman, with snIles and tears,
! Is helping as hard as she can
To put on his coat and pin his sleeve,
Tie his crnvat and cut his food.
And say as these fancies weave.
That is Tom and the woman he wooed."
1.-THE years roll on. and then SEQ
a wedding picture, bright and fair;
1 look closer, and It's plain to mo
That is Tom with the silver hair.
He gives away the lovely bride.
Brave old Tom with empty sleeve
Mr.. ,InnIs Randolph. Of Richmond, Va.
decided hit IN Its day. theush It beioass
to the war. 1t is entitled The Good ord
Rebel" and has been frequently published
In Richmond. In literary quality 1t falls
far short Of some other poems by Mir.
Randolph notably the one on the o:ca-
sion of John Marshall,s statue oe,ng
was during the reconstruction period,
vixen Virginia was labeled District No.
L. and Mr.. Randolph naturally felt bitter
under such circumstances,
Here Is the Marshall poem:
We are glad to see you John Marshall,
SO fresh from the chisel OF ROGERS;
So take your stand on tho monument
Along with the other old dodgers.
With Washington, Jefferson. Mason and
who snned with a great transgress,on
In the old. fashioned notions OF freedom
And their hatred OF wrong and oppres-
sion.
But you've come rather late to your
( F. pedestal. John;
Things are much changed since you've
been here.
For the volume you hold s no longer law
And this is no longer Virginia.
The old Marshall law you expounded Of
yore rEs
Is 10 longer Mt all to tho purpose. -
And the martial law Of the new bl7ga-
Is stronger than "habeas corpus"
So shut up the volume you hold with
For the the days OF tho law arc over.
And It needs all your brass" to be hold
Ing Il there
With Justice" inscribed on Its cover.
Could lie awaken the links of bronze
And blaze In the FURNISHED eye,
What would ye do with q moment OF l!fe
Ye men OF the days gonc by!
Would We chtde US or pity us' Blush or
Ye men Of the days gone by.
Would Jefferson tear W the scroll he
holds,
That time has proven a lief
Would Marshall shut UP the volume OF law
And lay 1t down with q h!gh?