204
HAIL TO THE HEROES.
Homeward they come—let each hand and heart
In a warm, glad welcome bear a part,—
Let uncounted blessings and thanks go round,
For the soldiers’ brows with laurels crowned.
Hail to the heroes! each gallant one
Who went at the call of the signal gun,—
Glory shall place on its towering height
Their stainless record all fair and bright.
And yet, as we number each brave band o’er,
There are missing feet that return no more;
And sadly we hush our tones of glee
As we linger with thee, oh! memory.
With chastened feelings our spirits tell
How nobly they fought, how nobly they fell;
And with folded wings o’er their calm, sweet rest,
Hero and martyr, we deem them blest.
