Page:A selection of war lyrics with illustrations on wood.djvu/29

ON THE SHORES OF TENNESSEE. Massa's berry kind to Pompey;

But ole darky's happy here,

Where he's tended corn and cotton

For 'ese many a long-gone year.

Over yonder Missis' sleeping,—

No one tends her grave like me;

Mebbe she would miss the flowers

She used to love in Tennessee.

'Pears like she was watching, Massa—

If Pompey should beside him stay;

Mebbe she'd remember better

How for him she used to pray;

Telling him that way up yonder

White as snow his soul would be,

If he served the Lord of heaven

While he lived in Tennessee."

Silently the tears were rolling

Down the poor old dusky face.

As he stepped behind his master,

In his long-accustomed place.

Then a silence fell around them,

As they gazed on rock and tree

Pictured in the placid waters

Of the rolling Tennessee;

Master, dreaming of the battle

Where he fought by Marion's side,

When he bid the haughty Tarleton

Stoop his lordly crest of pride;

Man, remembering how yon sleeper

Once he held upon his knee,

Ere she loved the gallant soldier,

Ralph Vervair, of Tennessee.

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