WIDOWED AND CHILDLESS.
135
"There has been a great battle! Many are slain!"
"Tell me," I cried, "with whom victory rests?"
"Our proud flag," he said, "floats high o'er the plain
Where our brave soldiers lie with their swords on their breasts."
"Tell me," I cried, "with whom victory rests?"
"Our proud flag," he said, "floats high o'er the plain
Where our brave soldiers lie with their swords on their breasts."
"Thank God!" I cried out—"thank God for the Right!"
"Madam," said he, "our true-hearted, brave men
Went down unto death by scores in the fight,
Went down in the fell cannonade!"—and what then?
"Madam," said he, "our true-hearted, brave men
Went down unto death by scores in the fight,
Went down in the fell cannonade!"—and what then?
"God rest them!" I said; but a sharp sword of dread
Pierced into my breast; I felt chilly and numb;
"Speak the worst," said my eyes: "are they living, or dead?"
But my cold lips were ice-flakes frozen and dumb.
Pierced into my breast; I felt chilly and numb;
"Speak the worst," said my eyes: "are they living, or dead?"
But my cold lips were ice-flakes frozen and dumb.
Could it be? can it be? no! no! no! no!
God is too merciful,—God is too kind!
Both my brave sons,—my darlings! laid low!
Heaven be pitiful!—I fall, I am blind!
God is too merciful,—God is too kind!
Both my brave sons,—my darlings! laid low!
Heaven be pitiful!—I fall, I am blind!
Is not that quite enough! both of them slain!
Torn by the cruel shot, bruised by the shell?
Lying still, cold on the blood-crimsoned plain,
Uniformed, armed, open-eyed, as they fell!
Torn by the cruel shot, bruised by the shell?
Lying still, cold on the blood-crimsoned plain,
Uniformed, armed, open-eyed, as they fell!
"Still another," said he. My husband? Great God!
"Killed by a shot from a bold grenadier!"
Poured out his life on the red, reeking sod,
While the tramp of mad chargers smote on his ear!
"Killed by a shot from a bold grenadier!"
Poured out his life on the red, reeking sod,
While the tramp of mad chargers smote on his ear!
