Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-05-30
Published by request.
The Knot OF Blue And Gray.

Both mothers of America, but reared the
States apart.
One with the Winter on her head, the Win
ter in her heart,
One crowned with never-melting SHOWS,
grave within her breast,
But in that grave the dove of Peace had
made its little nest
In soft, low tones they murmured on, of
joys and sorrows past,
And when the gentle hands they touched
tender theme at last.
One wore a little tuft of eray-gray with
its soft, sad hue,
The other carried on her breast knot of
Yankee blue.
why wear this token next my heart p
the Northern mother smiled
And stroked the fragment on her breast
as if it were child.
IN blue our Lord has clothed the skies,
and robed the tropic seas;
From azure fields our banner throws its
spangles to the breeze.
In blue the mountain Grapes her head
while thro' the mists and dew
Shines, like baby's from her breast the
contains eye of blue.
When, years agone. the simoon's breath
smote all our fairest flowers,
When earthquakes rent and tempests tore
this God-made land of ours,
When Maine and Massachusetts called
amongst the brave and true
Who answered Here gave them one
who wore a coat of blue.
When, gory-maned, the beast of Wal
charged through Virginia's hills,
With dripping blood that stained the rocks
and dyed the mountain rills.
When, believing with rage and hate, he
shook that bloody name.
And tore the ranks with cruel teeth upon
Manassas plain,
They found amid the mangled heap OF
victims whom he slew.
A soldier. from whose boyish breast they
cut this slip of blue"
The Southern mother bowed her head, a
prayer rose to the throne,
For Christ, the Comforter, to seek this heart
so like her own,
Then lifted her fair old face, bejewelIed
with tear,
And touched her bosom with knot of gray
that rested there.
in gray our Lord has dressed the mists
and wrapped the twilight sea;
Gray are the ashes of the dead, gray is the
hue for me.
Like silent specters grayly swathed, behold
the Southern moss,
Gray was the face that Heaven turned or
Calvary and the Cross.
1t is the tint of human tears, the hue Of
parting day;
If broken hearts are ever seen, their color
will be gray"
A sob of mercy arose, it shook the Southern
breast,
And 10 the timid doveo of Peace was fright
ened from its nest.
Slow dripped 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 peeled from Sumpter's battlements
the War-god's awful voice.
And men and mates were called by Fate
to make the final choice
| had but one-a child he seemed-m,
dead loves legacy,
The only living human thing that earth
contained for me-
| trampled on my selfish heart | drove m,
tears away,
And with my own hand buttoned on my
darling's coat of gray
II matters not the agony. the love, thu
prayers. the pride
The awful throes that racked my heart, TO
later OMIT died.
But when upon Virginia's hills they turned
the CORY clay.
They brought me from soldiers breas
this little slip of gray"
With trembling, sympathetic hands, and
voice that shook with tears.
The Northern mother quickly spoke Of
forms that thronged the years.
OF jackson, Lee and all the hosts, whose
glory and 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 kiss upon
the knot Of gray.
The Southern mother raised her face and
slowly over all.
A soft light. as from white wings in theil
passage, seemed to fall
II rested in her eyes. despite the eray
within her breast
The little frightened dove Of Peace had
fluttered TO its nest.
To Our Heroes
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