The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1910-05-27
When Daddy Donned
the Blue

I1I oAANo 80 3 Z "
1T day, just as they did Of old,
And phantom feet go down the
street.-the same old war
riors bold;
At Lincoln's call they swell
the ranks, all eager for the
l see the shades march thro' the glades-
for country. God and right.
From caves and sill. DER vale and hill
the Stars and Stripes a-wave,
To fife and drum the legions come. the
loyal and the brave.
I see her there upon the stair-oh, mother
heart so true
With tear-dimmed eye. and sweet good
by. when Daddy donned the blue!
IVES. Daddy donned the blue. my lads.
but hearts were sad that day.
For little Jim-it was his whim-had
gone to don the gray.
Dad called him "Baby brother'-his were
but IS years,
ALAS. alack. go bring him back" they
said twixt signs and tears.
My heart it hears. down thro' the years,
the echoes signing there.
When mother-heart poured out it's grief,
and hands wrung in despair.
But still we sang. till hill tops rang with
echoes thro' and thro',
"Hurrah, boys, for the Union for
Daddy's donred the blue!
ITRAMP. tramp, the boys are march
ing we sing 1t with a vim.
The train Is pulling out. my lads
sing 1t for the love of him!
Way down the track. the song came
back, and echoes family play,
The Girl I Left Behind Me-" till at last
they die away.
The regiments, the fields of tents, down
by Potomac's shore;
The silent camp, the sentry's tramp, and
nome. dear homes no more.
They're gone. they're gone, the battles
on, but young hearts never knew
Inc mothers part, the aching heart. when
Daddy donned the blue!
A NTIETAM sings her harvest song, her
n harvest song of death,
The iron hail rings on the malta
bullet for a breath;'
Poor Baby Jim, the feet Of him stand
shoeless or the line.
With courage there, born of despair-like
something half divine;
race powder-stained while bullets rained
defiant there he stood.
10 load and fire at each and
win or die for Hood.
An, Baby Jim, a mothers prayer must
needs go up for you.
IT wrong or right-it is her plight-'God
bless the gray and blue!"
THE boy in blue-while carnage grew
with Hooker stood all day,
Until the stars looked down upon ten
thousand swept away.
The night was still. DER vale and hill, An
tietam mourned her dead;
No sound was heard. save COO of bird,
and silent sentry's tread.
The boy in blue-ah. we'll he knew, that
Jim was ever there:
But what Of him? Nights sable rim
closed round him in despair;
With heart of steel. for woe or weal-he
sees the bayonets shine
With quick advance. levn like a lance. he
skins the picket line!
M HAT strange intent. Presentiment:
He seeks among the dead;
He feels a touch, a clammy clutch,
then lifts his brothers head.
This message bear, to mother there
said Jim, II am to blame,
But she'll forgive, if she shall live-my
last breath is her name
20. Jim, that I had died instead" cried
out the boy in blue,
Her heart bled when you ran away, and
now twill break for YOU"
The gen'ral passed, but held him fast
said he-"A spy, I guess,
When I am thro' with tn life O. you,
there'l be one Yankee less"
IkY AY, general, this is little Jim, my
IL mothers baby Jim.
promised her. 1 swore it, SIR, that
I'd be true to him.;
Then when I've covered him with earth
and said my last good-by,
Just tell her this-'twon't be amiss-'fol
Baby Jim I die"
The general spoke, with husky throat
and eyes a little blurred:
"You'1 better take the news yourself
mt&y, you've kept your word.
Here. take this pass, and clip the grass
here's compliments of mine;
Tell Fighting joe he'll lave a need O
you when he strikes my fighting
line"
CARVED on a board. they read, whe
pass: ITO Baby Jim the brave"
While birds awning. their requiem sing
above his honored grave.
They're living still, the hearts that thrill
to hear the story old.
Where phantom feet go down the stree
and phantom warriors bold;
No sound of flute, their lips are mute, bu
shades Of heroes come.
AS once they came, with hearts aname
to bugle, fife and drum;
The years go by, with laugh and sigh. blu
that day seems to stay,
When Daddy donned the blue, my lads
and Baby Jim the gray!
What Soldiers Liked.
No matter how serious the situation