Page images
PDF
EPUB

An' then a red-nosed, dranken tramp, of low-toned, rowdy style, Give an interductory hiccup, an' then staggered up the aisle. Then through thet holy atmosphere there crep' a sense er sin, An' through thet air of sanctity the odor uv old gin.

[ocr errors]

Then Deacon Purington he yelled, his teeth all set on edge,-"This man purfanes the house er God! W'y this is sacrilege!" The tramp did n' hear a word he said, but slouched 'ith stumblin'

feet,

An' sprawled an' staggered up the steps, an' gained the organ seat.
He then went pawin' through the keys, an' soon there rose a strain
Thet seemed to jest bulge out the heart an' 'lectrify the brain ;
An' then he slapped down on the thing 'ith hands an' head an'
knees,

He slam-dashed his hull body down kerflop upon the keys.

The organ roared, the music flood went sweepin' high an' dry;
It swelled into the rafters an' bulged out into the sky.
The ol' church shook an' staggered an' seemed to reel an' sway,
An' the elder shouted "Glory!" an' I yelled out "Hooray!"

An' then he tried a tender strain thet melted in our ears,
Thet brought up blessed memories and drenched 'em down 'ith tears;
An' we dreamed uv ol'time kitchens 'ith Tabby on the mat,
Uv home an' luv an' baby-days an' mother an' all that!

An' then he struck a streak uv hope-a song from souls forgiven-
Thet burst from prison bars uv sin, an' stormed the gates uv

heaven;

The morning stars together sung-no soul wuz left alone—
We felt the universe wuz safe, an' God was on His throne!

An' then a wail of deep despair an' darkness come again,

An' long, black crape hung on the doors uv all the homes uv men ;
No luv, no light, no joy, no hope, no songs of glad delight,
An' then the tramp, he swaggered down an' reeled into the night!

But we knew he'd tol' his story, tho' he never spoke a word,
An' it was the saddest story that our ears had ever heard;
He hed tol' his own life history, an' no eye was dry thet day,
W'en the elder rose an' simply said,-" My brethren, let us pray."
-S. W. Foss.

GRANT'S STRATEGY.

Who had thought, until Grant said it, that the crisis comes in battle when both armies are nearly exhausted, and that usually the one wins which attacks first? When did he ever fail to attack first? Who had thought, until he suggested it, that the trouble with the Potomac army, the pride of the nation, was, that it had not fought its battles through? Who then living has forgotten the utter downfall of hope, the absolute despair throughout the North, as the moan from the Wilderness came rolling up on the Southern breeze? Is the task hopeless? Is this last mighty effort only more disastrous than that of McClellan, of Pope, of Burnside, of Hooker? No! listen to the assurance. "I'll fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." Every loyal heart in the land is inspired. That telegram to the president was the death-knell of rebellion. But the test-hour of Grant had not yet come. ous, Sherman magnificent; but Sigel is routed. ceeded, Banks utterly failed. Never! Was it, then, less than the inspiration of genius? Sheridan, take the Sixth Corps, and clean out the valley so a crow must take his rations when he flies over it." Meade, absorb the army of the James, and never let Lee escape. Sherman, march to the sea as a cyclone of devastation. Thomas, play with Hood until you draw him to destruction. Stoneman, take your bold riders across the mountains, into Virginia and the Carolinas, right across every line of supply to the enemy. Wilson, push your twelve thousand mounted men into the heart of Alabama. Canby, capture Mobile.

Meade was gloriButler has not sucShall Grant unloose his grip?

66

Such was the new combination, audacious in strategy beyond precedent; but, if faulty in any respect, military critics have not discovered it Its perfection, and the result of the execution, stamp it forever with the insignia of genius. Masterly tactics, brilliant manoeuvring, bold fighting, though essential to success after the combinations have produced the strategical situation, yet rarely cure material defect in the latter. If cured at all, it is generally by blunders of the enemy. Lee and Johnston, as defensive generals, were not blunderers. I pity the man who, in the face of the record, attacks General Grant as a master of grand strategy. I need not speak of his tactics. I believe mankind are agreed that

the history of war discloses no display of tactical skill and vigor superior to Grant's about Vicksburg, and from the 3d to the 9th of April, 1865, being directed to prevent General Lee's attempted escape from Petersburg and junction with Johnston in North Carolina. The annals of other wars seem tame when read by the side of the story of that week's work. It resulted in the despatch to Secretary Stanton, so simple and modest in language, yet the most momentous of all history: "General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this afternoon on terms proposed by myself." The work was done done precisely as planned, not a vestige of luck in it. Every army was at the precise place designed, with the exact work accomplished that was marked out for it. Method, plan, design exclude the idea of luck.

Let us in humble reverence say, the God of nations blessed General Grant in his awful undertaking.

-Judge Veasey.

BRIDGE OF THE TAY.

The night and the storm fell together upon the old town of Dundee, And, trembling, the mighty Firth river held out its cold hand to

the sea.

'Twas a night when the landsman seeks shelter, and cares not to venture abroad;

When the sailor clings close to the rigging, and prays

of God.

for the mercy

Look! the moon has come out, clad in splendor, the turbulent scene

to behold;

She smiles at the night's devastation, she dresses the storm-king in

gold.

She kindles the air with her cold flame, as if to her hand it were

given

To light the frail earth to its ruin with the tenderest radiance of

heaven.

To the south, like a spider-thread waving, there curves, for a two

mile away,

This world's latest man-devised wonder,-the far-famous bridge of

the Tay.

It stretches and gleams into distance; it creeps the broad stream

o'er and o'er,

Till it rests its strong, delicate fingers in the palm of the opposite

shore.

But, look! through the mists of the southward there flash to the eye, clear and plain,

Like a meteor that's bound to destruction, the lights of a swiftcoming train!

*

'Mid the lights that so gayly are gleaming yon city of Dundee within,

Is one that is waiting a wanderer who long o'er the ocean has been. His age-burdened parents are watching, from the window that looks on the firth,

For the train that will come with their darling, their truest loved treasure on earth.

"He'll be coming the nicht," says the father, "for sure the handwritin''s his ain;

The letter says,

Ye

o'clock train.

Ha' the lamp lichted, I'll come on the seven

may sit at the southermost window, for I will come hame from

that way;

I will fly where I swam when a youngster, across the broad Firth

o' the Tay.'"

So they sit at the southernmost window, the parents, with hand clasped in hand,

And gaze o'er the tempest-vexed waters, across to the storm-shaken

land.

They see the bold acrobat-monster creep out on the treacherous line; Its cinder-breath glitters like star-dust, its lamp-eyes they glimmer

and shine.

But, look! look! the monster is stumbling, while trembles the fragile bridge-wall

They struggle like athletes entwining-then both like a thunderbolt fall!

No wonder the mother faints death-like, and clings like a clod to the floor!

No wonder the man writhes in frenzy, and dashes his way through

the door!

He fights his way out through the tempest; he is beaten and baffled and tossed;

He cries, "The train's gang off the Tay brig! lend help here to look for the lost!"

Oh! little to him do they listen, the crowds to the river that flee; The news like the shock of an earthquake has thrilled through the

town of Dundee.

A moment they gaze down in horror; then creep from the deathladen tide,

With the news "There's nae help for our loved ones, save God's mercy for them who have died!"

How sweetly the sunlight can sparkle o'er graves where our best hopes have lain !

How brightly its gold beams can glisten on faces that whiten with

pain!

Oh! never more gay were the wavelets, and careless in innocent

glee,

And never more sweet did the sunrise shine over the town of

Dundee.

"'Twas sae sad," moaned the crushed, aged mother, each word dripping o'er with a tear,

"Sae far he should come for to find us, and then he should perish sae near!

O Robin, my bairn! ye did wander far from us for mony a day, And when ye ha' come back sae near us, why could na' ye come a' the way?"

"I hae come a' the way," said a strong voice, and a bearded and sun-beaten face

Smiled on them the first joyous pressure of one long and filial

embrace;

"I cam' on last nicht far as Newport, but Maggie, my bride that's

to be,

She ran through the storm to the station to get the first greeting o'

me.

I leaped from the carriage to kiss her; she held me sae fast and sae

ticht,

« PreviousContinue »