GOD WILL CARE FOR MOTHER NOW.
CAPTURE OF UNION CITY, TENN.,
MARCH 31ST, '62.
QUELL, oh! quell your fears, my darling;
Think not of your Mother, child;
Though I never cease my weeping,
Though my thoughts are fierce and wild,
I will try to bear up nobly,
To God's decree humbly bow,
If you'll only cease your asking :
Who will care for Mother now?
When you cross the river Jordan,
Let no anxious thoughts arise:
I am coming, coming after,
Angels bear me to the skies,
Let no thoughts of coming sorrow
Cloud your placid, peaceful brow;
You can confidently answer:
God will care for mother now!
Oh! when in death those eyelids close,
When they bear thee to the tomb:
When life's arduous work is done:
When your Maker calls you home:
And when again to dust you turn,
When in Heaven rise again:
There, where no earthly sorrows come:
God will guard your Mother then.
FATHER SHIELD HIM FROM THE SHOT.
AT THE BATTLE OF FARMINGTON, VA.,
O LORD of Hosts! his Country called,
And nobly to her voice he sprung,
While o'er his brow our banner flashed,
Where chargers neighed and trumpets rung;
There were no tremors in his eye,
When putting on his warrior-crest;
And but a tear-it was when he
Was clasped unto his mother's breast!
O Father! shield him from the shot;
But if it is his doom to die,
May he with shouts of triumph round,
Bend on our flag his closing eye-
And feeling that his mother's soul
Is watching on the field of death; Where, though it weeps, yet gives a smile Unto her brave boy's last wild breath.
O proudly will his mother see
Her Country wreath his hero-tomb,
And many a Spring nurse tenderly
With Nature's tears the garland's bloom!
How sweet will be the song of praise,
Where his dear relics peaceful lie!
How grand-away exultant thoughts!
O God! he must not, MUST NOT die!
WILLIAM ROSS WALLACE.
BEFORE THE BATTLE OF PITTSBURG LANDING, MISS.,
APRIL 6TH, '62.
HARK! from the South the startling cry,
Seize, Patriots, seize your arms
And to your country's rescue fly,
Avert the threat'ning storm,
Rebellion's red, malignant star
Has risen on our land,
And treason wages deadly war
And waves his bloody wand.
Stand not aloof, your brother's blood
Cries vengeance, from the glade,
Press forward like a mighty flood,
Unsheath the glittering blade;
Press forward to the battle-field,
Do battle for the right
Till all the hosts of treason yield,
Subdu'd by loyal might.
It must not be, it cannot be,
Our country still must live;
Sustained by hands both strong and free
Our flag respected wave,
And Union strong again restor❜d,
Our suffering land shall bless-
Our ship of State securely moor'd
Anchored again in peace.
Your banner now give to the wind,
Rush to the field of war,
Linger no longer here behind,
Your brothers cry from far.
Rush forward, sons of Michigan,
From workshop, field, and fold,
Fill up their ranks, let every man
The good old flag uphold.
THE STAR OF THE OCEAN.
CAPTURE OF ISLAND NO. 10, MISS.,
APRIL 7TH, '62.
Ir decks the ocean's pathless blue,
And floats on every tide;
It cheers the hardy sailor's view,
Our flag, our country's pride.
It ran aloft on England's coast,
And kissed the moonlight free,
When Jones smote down proud Britain's boast
That "England rules the sea."
It shone in beauty o'er the waves,
When France struck at its stars;
But they in ocean found their graves,
Swept down by our brave tars.
Decatur, 'midst the battle storm,
Its starry folds unswung,
And as the wild winds caught its form,
Triumphantly be sung.
With blushing smiles it lit the fleet,
When Lawrence led the fight;
He went the enemy to meet,
Just at the dawn of light.
He stood within his ocean nest,
And bravely fought that day;
But ere the sun had sunk to rest,›
It mantled his cold clay.
It slept within a thunder cloud,
By Perry on the lake,
When with wild shouts which rung aloud,
He did his strong foe break.
It saw with pleasure o'er Champlain,
Its proud opponent flee;
And floated with the English slain,
The dwellers of the sea.
Still may it shine in grandeur far,
The emblem of the brave;
Still may it float the world's great star,
Till all sleep in the grave.
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