Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/278

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
260
SOUTHERN LIFE IN SOUTHERN LITERATURE


Here Shenandoah brawls along, There burly Blue Ridge echoes strong To swell the Brigade s rousing song, Of Stonewall Jackson s Way. We see him now the queer slouched hat, Cocked over his eye askew: The shrewd, dry smile; the speech so pat, So calm, so blunt, so true. The "Blue-light Elder" knows em well: Says he, "That s Banks: he s fond of shell. Lord save his soul: we'll give him ": well, That s Stonewall Jackson s Way. Silence! Ground arms! Kneel all! Caps off! Old Massa s going to pray. Strangle the fool that dares to scoff: Attention! it s his way. Appealing from his native sod, In forma pauperis to God,

"Lay bare Thine arm! Stretch forth Thy rod: Amen!" That s Stonewall s Way. He s in the saddle now. Fall in! Steady! the whole brigade. Hill s at the ford, cut off; we'll win His way out, ball and blade. What matter if our shoes are worn? What matter if our feet are torn? Quick step! we re with him before morn That s Stonewall Jackson s Way.