For the Columbian Fountain.


LINES

On the Accidental DealS Of a Soldier
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BY CHARLES WILSON, y. ;. a.
Ills terrible to die:
To exchange this bright world, so full of joys,
For the eternal sleep Of the cold and silent tomb
Yet there are moments IN our lives


When death comes as joyful messenger
A herald sent from heaven, with reprieve
From all the tolls and cares of life
A passport from the dull, cold scenes of life,
To cline where souls feast on Love,
And brighten in the smiles of Him who died
That all might smile


To the soldier, whose glory 'tis 10 fall
Upon the battle plain, where freemen die
To save the land they love from shame,
Amid the clash Of steel, the smoke and roar
OF cannon, and then the proud huzza
Thai tells the victory won


O.! / would bear with life thousand years
Bear the pangs of unrequted love
The scorn Of friends, the shame OF strangers-
Aye! live, fed upon the dregs OF Despair's
Biuerest cup, if could but at last die
On the field Of strife. my feeble voice
Swelling the glorious shout of victory,
My young arm grasping sword,
Wet with the warm blood of my foes,
And pointing to the flag. waving in triumph
Ore the glory Of its friends and flight of It's foes,
Die-a stripe for my shroud,
A star for my pillow, and one yolley
10 cheer my spirit in its flight
To try the unknown realities Of eternity.
This is the death that soldiers wish TO die:
Yes, they pant for this as lovers long separated
Pant to press each others lips:
And when fate denies them this boon
And calls them off, no matter how,
She owns no gift to pay them back with justice.
Comrade, twas thy fate, thy destiny
To leave this world without tasting Joy
Fit to repay thee for bearing its cares.
We weep not for thy death, but It's manner;
We mourn not thy absence, but thy loss of
aer glory


Still, e'en for this we'll cease to mourn,
And hope thy soul has met a Christians doom,
Andpassed thy great Inspector-GoD.


WAsHINGToN, d. c., March 80, 1916.