Ballads of the War (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ... loved land Had need to wear a shield, Who e'er our Colonel brave did strike Lay cold upon the field, --A victim to the righteous wrath In which his arm was steeled. " But, madam, nations need a spur, --A martyr's eloquence, To rouse them from the seeds of sloth, To deeds of eminence. For such an one our leader took His life, and bore it hence. " A nation, madam, mourns with you, A nation bleeds to-day, That woes like ours must needs bear The talented away. The nation weeps, while thanking you For him, lost in the fray." " Come closer, boy--aye, closer still, Support me, Betty, dear, Good day, sir who would think, my boy I had so large a tear--When lately I've so many shed, From sorrow's fountain, here. Ah well I knew the joyful news, Was but a well coined lie, That spread it's venom o'er my frame, The tears of love to dry. That I should live to see this day--Quick, water, or I die " In Betty's arms the lady fair, While Betty softly prayed, 4 So white, and, ah, so motionless Was all serenely laid, Until more help came, then her form Was to the bed conveye That night upon her couch she lay, And tossed each weary limb, As though in dreams she spectres met, So gaunt, and gray, and grim, And 'twas many days ere she could think Or talk of aught save him. THE LOVE OF THE WOUNDED ZOUAVE. A Zouave lay in a sorry plight, In the hospitual, weary and sore, And in faith it was a right sorrv sight To see the wounds that he bore. A bandage of white was round the head Of this Union man and true, But his nose and his trowsers were very red And his spirit and eyes were blue. Now three days' suns had risen and set Since first on that bed he lay; His fever was gone--no more he would fret, When the nurses passed that way. Around him...