Part 14 (2/2)

JULIA WARD HOWE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROBERT E. LEE.]

OLD GLORY ON THE ISLAND

MEN who have had grave differences and looked at each other coldly and pa.s.sed with unsmiling faces have, when some calamity threatened, sprang shoulder to shoulder and spent their united strength in defense of a common cause.

Thus in the Spanish-American spurt of war,--serious enough, too serious, alas, in some aspects; but great in some of its beneficent results. In that call, ”To Arms!” was laid to rest--forever forgotten--the old enmity between the North and the South, engendered by the Civil Strife.

On the island of Cuba, the trenches of the United States Army were five miles in extent and in shape of a horseshoe. Above the trenches, five curving miles of _Stars and Stripes_ gleamed.

To the United States prisoners, confined in the prison, within sight of these flags, but _under the flag of Spain_, the waving emblems before their eyes brought daily hope and courage.

[Ill.u.s.tration: EVERY MAN UNCOVERED AND STOOD WITH SILENT LIPS, AND EYES FIXED ON OLD GLORY.]

In full vision of the men in the trenches fluttered the flag of Spain; above their heads Old Glory flew,--the sheltering Stripes and Stars.

As night came down, and land and s.h.i.+mmering sea was bathed in the white light of the sub-tropics, the strains of the ”Star-Spangled Banner” were borne upon the air and fell away softly, as if coming from across the water. Every man uncovered and stood with silent lips, and eyes fixed upon Old Glory until the last echoing note died in the distance, then turned again to duties; but upon his face was stamped the deeper understanding of the meaning of it all--_of Flag, and Home, and Country_.

Thus from the sh.o.r.es of a tropic island, fighting together for the flag of the nation, both Blue and Gray gained a new and happier viewpoint; and looking back across the warm and s.h.i.+ning waters of the Gulf Stream, each knew that all was good, and said:--

”Lo! from the thunder-strife, And from the blown, white ashes of the dead, We rise to larger life.”

”There is a peace amid'st the shock of arms, That satisfies the soul, though all the air Hurtles with horror and with rude alarms.”

”That clarion cry, My country! makes men one.”

WHEELER'S BRIGADE AT SANTIAGO

'NEATH the lanes of the tropic sun The column is standing ready, Awaiting the fateful command of one Whose word will ring out To an answering shout To prove it alert and steady.

And a stirring chorus all of them sung With singleness of endeavor, Though some to ”The Bonny Blue Flag” had swung And some to ”The Union For Ever.”

The order came sharp through the desperate air And the long ranks rose to follow, Till their dancing banners shone more fair Than the brightest ray Of the Cuban day On the hill and jungled hollow; And to ”Maryland” some in the days gone by Had fought through the combat's rumble And some for ”Freedom's Battle-Cry”

Had seen the broad earth crumble.

Full many a widow weeps in the night Who had been a man's wife in the morning; For the banners we loved we bore to the height Where the enemy stood As a hero should His valor his country adorning; But drops of pride with your tears of grief, Ye American women, mix ye!

For the North and South, with a Southern chief, Kept time to the tune of ”Dixie.”

WALLACE RICE.

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