 | War poets of the South and Confederate camp-fire songs. |  |
23
GEORGE W. BAGBY.
Dr. George W. Bagby was born in Virginia in 1828, and for a
number of years was the editor of the Southern Literary Messenger,
published at Richmond, Va. He was a frequent contributor
to current literature, and won well deserved literary laurels
in humorous writings, over the pen-name of "Mozis
Addums." He also achieved considerable success as a lecturer.
Some of his lyrics are exquisite. "The Empty Sleeve"
is a gem of this kind, full of homely but genuine pathos.
THE EMPTY SLEEVE.
Tom, old fellow, I grieve to see
That sleeve hanging loose at your side;
The arm you lost was worth to me
Every Yankee that ever died.
But you don't mind it at all,
You swear you've a beautiful stump,
And laugh at the damnable ball—
Tom, I knew you were always a trump!
That sleeve hanging loose at your side;
The arm you lost was worth to me
Every Yankee that ever died.
But you don't mind it at all,
You swear you've a beautiful stump,
And laugh at the damnable ball—
Tom, I knew you were always a trump!
A good right arm, a nervy hand,
A wrist as strong as a sapling oak,
Buried deep in the Malvern sand—
To laugh at that is a sorry joke.
Never again your iron grip
Shall I feel in my shrinking palm;
Tom, Tom, I see your trembling lip,
How on earth can I be calm?
A wrist as strong as a sapling oak,
Buried deep in the Malvern sand—
To laugh at that is a sorry joke.
Never again your iron grip
Shall I feel in my shrinking palm;
Tom, Tom, I see your trembling lip,
How on earth can I be calm?
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Well, the arm is gone, it is true;
But the one that is nearest the heart
Is left—and that's as good as two.
Tom, old fellow, what makes you start?
Why, man, she thinks that empty sleeve
A badge of honor; so do I,
And all of us—I do believe
The fellow is going to cry!
But the one that is nearest the heart
Is left—and that's as good as two.
Tom, old fellow, what makes you start?
Why, man, she thinks that empty sleeve
A badge of honor; so do I,
And all of us—I do believe
The fellow is going to cry!
"She deserves a perfect man," you say;
You, "not worth her in your prime;"
Tom, the arm that has turned to clay,
Your whole body has made sublime;
For you have placed in the Malvern earth
The proof and the pledge of a noble life,
And the rest, henceforward of higher worth,
Will be dearer than all to your wife.
You, "not worth her in your prime;"
Tom, the arm that has turned to clay,
Your whole body has made sublime;
For you have placed in the Malvern earth
The proof and the pledge of a noble life,
And the rest, henceforward of higher worth,
Will be dearer than all to your wife.
I see the people in the street
Look at your sleeve with kindling eyes;
And know you, Tom, there's naught so sweet
As homage shown in mute surmise;
Bravely your arm in battle strove,
Freely for freedom's sake you gave it
It has perished, but a nation's love
In proud remembrance will save it.
Look at your sleeve with kindling eyes;
And know you, Tom, there's naught so sweet
As homage shown in mute surmise;
Bravely your arm in battle strove,
Freely for freedom's sake you gave it
It has perished, but a nation's love
In proud remembrance will save it.
25
Go to your sweetheart, then, forthwith—
You're a fool for staying so long;
Woman's love you will find no myth,
But a truth—living, tender and strong;
And when around her slender belt
Your left arm is clasped in fond embrace,
Your right will thrill, as if it felt
In its grave the usurper's place.
You're a fool for staying so long;
Woman's love you will find no myth,
But a truth—living, tender and strong;
And when around her slender belt
Your left arm is clasped in fond embrace,
Your right will thrill, as if it felt
In its grave the usurper's place.
As I look through the coming years,
I see a one-armed married man;
A little woman, with smiles and tears,
Is helping as hard as she can
To put on his coat, pin his sleeve,
Tie his cravat, and cut his food—
And I say, as these fancies I weave,
"That is Tom, and the woman he wooed."
I see a one-armed married man;
A little woman, with smiles and tears,
Is helping as hard as she can
To put on his coat, pin his sleeve,
Tie his cravat, and cut his food—
And I say, as these fancies I weave,
"That is Tom, and the woman he wooed."
The years roll on, and then I see
A wedding picture, bright and fair;
I look closer, and it's plain to me
That is Tom with the silver hair;
He gives away the lovely bride,
And the guests linger, loth to leave
The house of him in whom they pride—
Brave old Tom, with the empty sleeve.
A wedding picture, bright and fair;
I look closer, and it's plain to me
That is Tom with the silver hair;
He gives away the lovely bride,
And the guests linger, loth to leave
The house of him in whom they pride—
Brave old Tom, with the empty sleeve.
| War poets of the South and Confederate camp-fire songs. | |