 | [Going to battle, in] The Christian keepsake and missionary annual |  |
291
GOING TO BATTLE.
Calm in her love, the patriot wife,
Beside her valiant husband stood;
And saw him, for the field of strife,
Gird on his armour good.
Beside her valiant husband stood;
And saw him, for the field of strife,
Gird on his armour good.
Her lustrous eyes with pride were wet—
Her heart with feelings deep, was stirred;
For hostile hosts that day were met,
Red sword to clash with sword:
Her heart with feelings deep, was stirred;
For hostile hosts that day were met,
Red sword to clash with sword:
And to the stormy scene of war,
The idol of her soul was bound:
The stirring ordnance boomed afar—
His charger pawed the ground.
The idol of her soul was bound:
The stirring ordnance boomed afar—
His charger pawed the ground.
She placed her warm hand on his own—
“Go, in thy country's cause,” she said,
“And may our God with glory crown
The legions thou hast led!
“Go, in thy country's cause,” she said,
“And may our God with glory crown
The legions thou hast led!
“And as the battle-thunders roll
Upon the gustful, wandering air,
I to that God will pour my soul,
Assured that HE is there.
Upon the gustful, wandering air,
I to that God will pour my soul,
Assured that HE is there.
292
“There, where the blazoned banners wave,
And death-shots hurtle through the sky,
Where Valor finds a gory grave,
Or shouts, in victory!”
And death-shots hurtle through the sky,
Where Valor finds a gory grave,
Or shouts, in victory!”
The field was sought—the field was won—
The morrow saw the brave return;
But ah! that morrow's golden sun
Saw countless thousands mourn!
The morrow saw the brave return;
But ah! that morrow's golden sun
Saw countless thousands mourn!
Some, on the purple, deluged ground—
Some faintly groaning as they died:
Some, by no friends or kindred found—
Drenched in their vital tide.
Some faintly groaning as they died:
Some, by no friends or kindred found—
Drenched in their vital tide.
Thus earthly wars invoke renown—
Thus blood sustains the victor's wreath:
Far better, that “good fight,” and crown,
Which triumph over Death!
Thus blood sustains the victor's wreath:
Far better, that “good fight,” and crown,
Which triumph over Death!
Philadelphia.
| [Going to battle, in] The Christian keepsake and missionary annual | |