Still is the mighty host,
Each sentry at his post,
’Tis midnight’s hour:
There on my pallet low,
My brain on fire--aglow
With scenes of long-ago--
Entrancing power!
Home of my boyhood’s hours,
Nestled ’mid shady bowers,
How dear thou art!
I’m with you once again,
Freed from the poignant pain
Of seeing brothers slain--
Never to part.
Kind friends and parents dear,
Brushing the silent tear,
Utter, “Welcome!
Let glee and joy abound,
Let songs and jokes go round,
A warrior’s here--we’ve found
Our only son!”
A ramble now I take
O’er glen and silvery lake,
Now doubly dear!
Slowly I tread South Hill,
Thro’ wood and over rill,
The buzz of yon old mill
Reaching my ear.
Alas! how brief the stay!
A twinkling--then away
From scenes I love!
Back to the battle-field,
Where wounded patriots bleed,
From harm, be Thou my shield,
Oh God! above.
65
A Yankee Volunteer.
I thought I’d better come to town,
I brought along my gun, sir;
We guessed quite likely there’d be work,
Or praps there might be fun, sir;
I heerd wild geese was plenty, now,
A comin’ from the south’ard,
And thought I’d like a shot at some--
If you ain’t too much bothered.
My father sends his duty, sir;
He says that things is growin’,
And wants to know what he can do
T’ help the men that’s goin’.
Mother, she looks kind o’ scared,
But fixed my things to come, sir;
She didn’t want me, jest, to start,
Nor jest to stay at home, sir.
There’s brother Jim, he’s fierce to fight,
“Too young, boy,” says the jury;
(Jim’s seventeen) so he gets mad
And works away like fury.
He’s nigh about as tall as I,
That’s six foot and a quarter,
(Han’t measured lately, but I guess
I can’t ha’ grown much shorter.)
Now, what d’ye spose Jerusha said,
With her black eyes a snappin’?
She’s jest my second cousin, sir,
One seldom caught a nappin’.
She said if she could see a man
A fightin’ for the flag, sir,
That she would give her new silk gown
And call it but a rag, sir.
I’d meant before to come, for sure,
But that was jest a clincher;
I never was a soldier, yit,
But might be at a pinch, sir.
I’ll try--and if my lamp goes out
Afore their shot and brag, sir,
Jest tell Jerusha how I died
A fightin’ for the flag, sir.
66
Three Cheers for Our Banner.
Copied by permission of HORACE WATERS, Music Publisher,
481 Broadway, N. Y., owner of the copyright.
Three cheers for our Banner, the Stripes and the Stars,
The ensign of Liberty’s glorious wars!
Fling it out to the breezes, its colors display,
Let our Standard float boldly in face of the day.
We will stand by this Banner, through fire and flood,
We will guard and defend it, though crimson’d with blood.