Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 22.djvu/366

 354 Southern Historical Society Papers.

mingling flowed a rich libation to our country's cause our bards have sung.

But not revenge nor hate has been their theme. They tell of honor, freedom, love of home ; and of the motives which inspired the heart and nerved the patriot's arm to strike for country and for God.

They tell of him who heeded not ambition's call, and spurned the rank a patriot could not wear. Of Lee, the peerless, who made duty's star his guide through life to an immortal fame. They tell how Stonewall Jackson's star arose a blazing meteor in the track of war, and dying, left a radiance which will shine when other stars have sunk from human sight.

And still of others they have sung. Of generals high in rank, who wore the honors they had won on many a field with credit to themselves, their country, and their race.

AN INSPIRING THEME.

But now another theme inspires the song. Lowly it may be, but it awakes the soul to patriotic pride, to love and tears. The private soldier! He who heard the call his State had made to fight in freedom's cause. Who left his home and all his loved ones there, with laughter on his lip, but with a tear-dimmed eye. Who on the march, in heat and cold of summer sun and wintry blast, still trod the path of duty with unfaltering feet who barefoot, ragged, starv- ing, stood true to his country, firm in freedom's cause. These pri- vates in the ranks ! These famished men ! But see them when the day of conflict comes ! With maddening yell they spring upon the foe, and wave their flag in triumph o'er the field, or sleep there with the slain.

This is the theme to-day. One bard is missing from this mighty throng. 'Tis he whose voice is sweetest of them all; who tuned his harp to melancholy dirge, and sang of freedom and our "deathless dead."

The poet-priest ! His harp is laid aside ; his voice is hushed ; his stainless soul has flown up to his God, and with the seraph choir he joins the anthem of redeeming love.

The poet's dead ; but when his soul took flight another caught his mantle when it fell; and Gordon now takes up the harp and sings harmonious with the inspiring theme.