A TRUE HERO.
JAMES BRAIDWOOD: Died June 22, 1861.
OT at the battle front,—writ of in story;
Not on the blazing wreck steering to glory;
Not while in martyr-pangs soul and flesh sever,
Died he—this Hero new; hero forever.
Not on the blazing wreck steering to glory;
Not while in martyr-pangs soul and flesh sever,
Died he—this Hero new; hero forever.
No pomp poetic crowned, no forms enchained him,
No friends applauding watched, no foes arraigned him:
No friends applauding watched, no foes arraigned him:
Death found him there, without grandeur or beauty,
Only an honest man doing his duty:
Only an honest man doing his duty:
Just a God-fearing man, simple and lowly,
Constant at kirk and hearth, kindly as holy:
Constant at kirk and hearth, kindly as holy:
Death found—and touched him with finger in flying:—
Lo! he rose up complete—hero undying.
Lo! he rose up complete—hero undying.
Now, all men mourn for him, lovingly raise him
Up from his life obscure, chronicle, praise him;
Up from his life obscure, chronicle, praise him;
Tell his last act, done midst peril appalling,
And the last word of cheer from his lips falling;
And the last word of cheer from his lips falling;
Follow in multitudes to his grave's portal;
Leave him there, buried in honor immortal.
Leave him there, buried in honor immortal.
So many a Hero walks unseen beside us,
Till comes the supreme stroke sent to divide us.
Till comes the supreme stroke sent to divide us.
Then the Lord calls His own,—like this man, even,
Carried, Elijah-like, fire-winged, to heaven.
Carried, Elijah-like, fire-winged, to heaven.