Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 10.djvu/109

 INGERSOLL

��of all her soldiers living; in the name of all her soldiers who died upon the field of battle; and in the name of those who perished in the skeleton clutch of famine at Andersonville and Libby, whose sufferings he so eloquently remembers, Illinois nominates for the next president of this country that prince of parliamentarians, that leader of leaders — James G. Blaine.

��II AT HIS BROTHER'S GRAVE ^

(1879)

My Friends: — I am going to do that which the dead oft promised he would do for me.

The loved and loving brother, husband, father, friend, died where manhood's morning almost touches noon, and while the shadows still were falling toward the west.

He had not passed on life 's highway the stone that marks the highest point, but, being weary for a moment, lay down by the wayside, and, using his burden for a pillow, fell into that dreamless sleep that kisses down his eyelids still. While yet in love with life and raptured with the world, he passed to silence and pathetic dust.

Yet, after all, it may be best, just in the hap- piest, sunniest hour of all the voyage, while eager

' Delivered In Washington on June 3, 1879, at the funeral of Ebon C. Ingersoll. Printed in the New York Tribune on the following day. X— 6 81

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