Page:Poems of Mrs. Frances B.M. Brotherson.djvu/226

204 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.