 | Rhymes with reason and without |  |
156
SOLDIER, COME HOME!
Addressed particularly to Captain John H. Jackson, of Portsmouth, N. H., engaged in the war with Mexico.
Soldier, come home! There waits a heart-felt greeting
Thy coming by thy own hearth-stone again;
The gladdest smiles will bless the happy meeting,
And tears bedew thy neck like summer rain,—
Shed from bright eyes that wept at thy departing,
For the stern destiny that bid thee roam,—
But joy will prompt the tears that then are starting.
Soldier, come home!
Thy coming by thy own hearth-stone again;
The gladdest smiles will bless the happy meeting,
And tears bedew thy neck like summer rain,—
Shed from bright eyes that wept at thy departing,
For the stern destiny that bid thee roam,—
But joy will prompt the tears that then are starting.
Soldier, come home!
Soldier, come home! The weary, weary hours
Have left their marks on those thou left behind!
There 's many a thorn grown rankling 'mid the flowers,
There 's many a gray lock with the dark entwined;
The heart alone unchanged, thy form has guarded,
Prayed for thy weal 'mid battle's dire alarms,
Hoped for the time when fear should be discarded
Within thine arms.
Have left their marks on those thou left behind!
There 's many a thorn grown rankling 'mid the flowers,
There 's many a gray lock with the dark entwined;
The heart alone unchanged, thy form has guarded,
Prayed for thy weal 'mid battle's dire alarms,
Hoped for the time when fear should be discarded
Within thine arms.
157
Soldier, come home! Ah, how the full heart, yearning,
Has wildly throbbed to measures of thy fame;
Affection's eye still to the glad line turning
That bore due tribute to thy gallant name;
With quick pulse beating at each passing story,
Telling of valiant deeds on many a field,
Till, catching fire from the tale of glory,
All fears did yield!
Has wildly throbbed to measures of thy fame;
Affection's eye still to the glad line turning
That bore due tribute to thy gallant name;
With quick pulse beating at each passing story,
Telling of valiant deeds on many a field,
Till, catching fire from the tale of glory,
All fears did yield!
Soldier, come home! From strange airs danger breathing,
To scenes remembered by the camp-fire's blaze,
When Fancy fond her images was wreathing,
And home and friends were present to thy gaze;
The star-lit picture of thy midnight dreaming
Return and verify, no more to roam,
And scenes, delights, with which thy mind was teeming,
Enjoy at home.
To scenes remembered by the camp-fire's blaze,
When Fancy fond her images was wreathing,
And home and friends were present to thy gaze;
The star-lit picture of thy midnight dreaming
Return and verify, no more to roam,
And scenes, delights, with which thy mind was teeming,
Enjoy at home.
Soldier, come home! Bring back the faithful token
That interposed thy precious life to save,—
A sister's love-charm, like a chain unbroken,
Releasing not its spell this side the grave,—
And wear it as a God-gift when in haven,
As when around thee strife's wild waves did rage,
And on thy heart may its high truths be graven,
A brilliant page!
That interposed thy precious life to save,—
A sister's love-charm, like a chain unbroken,
Releasing not its spell this side the grave,—
And wear it as a God-gift when in haven,
As when around thee strife's wild waves did rage,
And on thy heart may its high truths be graven,
A brilliant page!
158
Soldier, come home! From War's rude shocks recover
Cast by the sword for implement of peace;
May her bright spirit o'er thy pathway hover,
And bid thy weary soul its troubles cease;
The guerdon of a grateful country's praise
Shall be a halo round thy passing years,
And the bold story of thy battle days
Glad greedy ears.
Cast by the sword for implement of peace;
May her bright spirit o'er thy pathway hover,
And bid thy weary soul its troubles cease;
The guerdon of a grateful country's praise
Shall be a halo round thy passing years,
And the bold story of thy battle days
Glad greedy ears.
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