ORIGINAL POETRY.

Marlborough Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1252, 10 December 1880, Page 4

ORIGINAL POETRY.

FAITHFUL UNTO HEATH.

Scene I.

The fierce cries of battle were sounding, Far over the hill and the plain ; The ground wjiere the standard was waving Was heaped with the wounded and slain.

Still, on went the pitiless carnage— Still, proudly the colors yet wave ; Tho’ the stoutest of hearts might well quaver, The soldier has need to be brave.

The contest grew sharper each moment— At last, midst a hailstorm of shell, Surrounded by half of his regimeDt The brave standard bearer, too, fell. Still grasping the colors, he murmured—. While gasping in anguish for breath—- “ Take these, lest they fall with their bearer, And say I was faithfull till death.” JSCENB IT. The scene is an Indian jungle, Beneath a fierce tropical sky ; The hot air is laden with fever, And one there lies ready to die. A tender friend watches beside him, r Supports the hot head on his breast, And bids him confide to his keeping, His wishes and dying bequest. A faint smile illumines the features, So soon to be rigid and cold ; He breaths forth a name, ’tis a woman’s— How much will a word oft unfold. “ Take a lock of my hair, she will like it The last struggle comes as he saitli—- “ Tell her—hold me fast, I am going—j Tell her I was faithful to death.” Scene 111, A spring day of exquisite beauty, The air sweet with flowers in their bloom, Came balmy and soft through the casement, And filled with its sweetness the room Where a fair broken lily was lying— A sweet blossom passing away, From the garden of earth to the mansions, Where nothing can fade or decay. The sweet face was pale and transparent, The features were sharpened and thin ; But the smile of an angel played o’er them, And told of the calmness within. No watching or love could detain her— The Heavenly mandate had come ; But to her it was void of all terror, And only a summons from Home. The moments, so fleeting, were numbered— At last came a struggle for breath ; Then she murmured, “ I’m going to meet him, He knows now I’m faithful till death.” “We shall meet in those regions of Glory—- ’ Meet there with the Holy, the Blest; Not an earthly, but Heavenly re-union, On which God’s Own Blessmg will rest.” “ And better than all do I love Him, My Saviour, Whose blessed word saith— A crown of pure life it awaiting The souls who are faithful till death.”