The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-06-16
lPublished 10y ltequ So
THE KNOTS OF BLUE AND GRAY
By May Elliott lIntson.

BA May IlllOtt iiill~pl.
Both, Mothers oi American, but reared
the States apart
one with the Winter ON her head, the
Winter IN her heart,
One crowned with melting snows.a
grave within her breast.
But IN that grave the dove oi Peace had
made li- little nest
la splt, low tones they mnrmurcd ON. oi
Joys and -prrpWS past.
And then with gentlr laids they ton IA
cd a tender theme "a, la4t
One wore u little iuft Of gray ray with
il -uit. sad hu,',
The other carricd on her breast a knot
uf Yankee blue.
why wear this token next nay heart"
The Northern mother ~mii,d,
And -trnkel th. fragment on her breast
us sii 10 were "A child.
' In blu" our lord has clothed the skies.
anl rob''d iIlr tropic ~',tS;
From nlnn. Geld our banner throws It's
Spauglr~ 10 the brrz'.
lu blue the mountain drapa- her head,
while through the mist- and dew
Shines. like "A baby =. from her breast the
gent iln = eyes Ol blue
When. years agonr. tl. simoon's broatn
~mOtc all our faire~t flowers.
Whom earthquakes rent and tcmprst- tore
this Goo-madc land of Ours.
Wheu Maine and Massachusetts called,
amongst the brave and true
" hu answered Here, gave them one
who wore u coat of blue
N hen. CORY named, the hpast Of War
,haIg,d through Niiginia's hills.
With dripping blood that stained the
rocks and dyed the mountain nils;
When. believing with rage and hate be-
shnOk that bloody manc,
Ana tore the ranks with cruel teethupon
Manassas plain.
The, lound nmid the manglrd heap OF
victims " hom he slew
4 -ollirr. from whose hoyi-lI breast they
cut this slip of blue.
The Southern mother bowed her head.
prayer rose tu the throne,
For Christ. thc Comforter. to seek this
heart 40 like her own,
Then lifted up her lair old face, bciewrIed
with n tear.
And touched her bosom VITA knot of
gray that rested there.
"ln gray our Lord has dressed the mi-ts.
and wrapped the twilight SEA.
Gray are the ashes ui the dead. gray II
the hue for me.
Like silent spcrters grayly swathed
behold the Southern moss
Gray was the face that heaven turned
ON Calvary aud the Cross.
IL il the tint oi human tears, the hue OF
parting day:
II broken hearts aIe ever seen their color
will be- gray.
4 sob of memory arose, it shook the
Southern breast,
And lol the timid dove of Peace was
frightened from it, nest
Slow drippcl the sad and silent drops.
and wet the gray knot through,
While opposite "A soft stream fell, and
wet the knot OF blue
When next that southern mother spoke,
the voice was not her own.
The desolation OF her heart was echoed
in her tone.
when pealed from Sumter's battle
ments the War-God = awful voice.
And men and States were called by Fate
to make the final choice,
had but one-a child he seemed-my
dead loves legacy,
The only living. human thing that earth
contained ior me.
trampled on my selfish heart, drove
my tears away,
And with my own hands buttOned on
my darling's coat Of gray.
IL matters not the agony, the love, the
prayers, the pride,
The awful throes that rack my heart,
for later OMIT died.
But when upon Nirgnia's hills they
turned the CORY clay,
They brought me from Il soldiers breast
this little slip OF gray
With trembling. sympathetic hand, and
voice that shook with tears,
The Northern mother quickly spoke of
forms that thrUngrd the years,
OF Jack son. Lee and all the host whose
glory aud renown
Like blazing jewels-set in gray-adorn
the nations crown.
OF these she spoke-then silently she
brushed tear away,
And, bending forward. pressed "a Kiss
upon the knot OF gray.
The Southern mother raised her lace,
and slowly over all.
4 soft light, M from white wings III
their passage, seemed to iall.
Il rested in her eyes. despite the grave
within her breast
The little frightened dove OF Peace had
huttered to its nest.