Page:Poems Rice.djvu/186

Then, venturing forth, I gathered, while wet
 With rain-drops, the buds and blossoms so fair;
In thine own little room the clusters I set,
 And felt in my heart thy presence was there.

While musing, each trifle a value possessed,
 Too sacred for pen or for thought to portray;
And secretly I each token caressed,
 Which seemed to respond,—He is twenty to-day;
Twelve months has elapsed since first thou obeyed
 The summons of dread—the war-bugle's cry;
Twelve months since thou wert in armor arrayed,
 With spirit undaunted, to do or to die.

As a tree that is seared by the lightning's blast,
 Struggling through the wildering gale,
I have stood till the news of conflicts swept past,
 Sustained by the hope that right must prevail.
Vicksburg surrendered; firm, glorious, and true,
 Didst thou stand in the front, with comrade so bold,
Till our fag was unfurled, the red, white, and blue;
 But, alas, when may I my hero behold?

At Jackson, the first confronting the foe,
 Where Carruth, the brave, his ensign did place
On battlements firm, the first there to glow,
 His vanguard a page will our history grace.
Till thy wounds shall be healed, O, beloved of mine,
 Look up to the crowns thy victors have gained;
We'll blessings invoke on thee and on thine,
 Till health is restored and peace is obtained.