Journeys Through Bookland Volume V Part 34

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps; They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I have read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps.

His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel, writ in burnished rows of steel: "As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal; Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel, Since G.o.d is marching on."

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment-seat: O, be swift, my soul, to answer him! be jubilant, my feet!

Our G.o.d is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me; As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While G.o.d is marching on.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"'STONEWALL' JACKSON'S WAY"

_By_ J. W. PALMER

NOTE.--Thomas J. Jackson, the great Confederate general, better known as "Stonewall" Jackson, was loved and admired by his men not only for his military ability, but for his personal virtues, and even for his personal peculiarities as well. He was a deeply religious man, and never began a battle without prayer or failed to give public thanks to G.o.d for a victory.

While he believed that the people through whose land he was pa.s.sing, and indeed all non-combatants, should be guarded as far as possible from the evil results of war, he showed no compa.s.sion for the enemies sent against him, and pushed the battle against them with all his might. His death in 1863 was a great loss to the Confederate cause.

Come, stack arms, men! Pile on the rails, Stir up the camp-fire bright; No matter if the canteen fails, We'll make a roaring night.

Here Shenandoah brawls along, There burly Blue Ridge echoes strong, To swell the brigade's rousing song Of "'Stonewall' Jackson's way."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Thomas J ("Stonewall") Jackson 1824-1863]

We see him now--the old slouched hat c.o.c.ked o'er his eye askew, The shrewd, dry smile, the speech so pat, So calm, so blunt, so true.

The "Blue-Light Elder" knows 'em well; Says he, "That's Banks[1]--he's fond of sh.e.l.l, Lord save his soul! We'll give him"--well, That's "'Stonewall' Jackson's way."

[Footnote 1: Nathaniel Prentiss Banks was a Federal general who was pitted against Jackson in several engagements.]

Silence! ground arms! kneel all! caps off!

"Old Blue-Light's" going to pray.

Strangle the fool that dares to scoff!

Attention! it's his way.

Appealing from his native sod, "_In forma pauperis_"[2] to G.o.d-- "Lay bare thine arm, stretch forth thy rod!

Amen!" That's "'Stonewall's way."

[Footnote 2: _In forma pauperis_ is a Latin legal expression, meaning _as a poor man_.]

He's in the saddle now--Fall in!

Steady! the whole brigade!

Hill's[3] at the ford, cut off--we'll win His way out, ball and blade!

What matter if our shoes are worn?

What matter if our feet are torn?

"Quick-step! we're with him before dawn!"

That's "'Stonewall' Jackson's way."

The sun's bright lances rout the mists Of morning, and, by George!

Here's Longstreet[4] struggling in the lists, Hemmed in an ugly gorge.

Pope[5] and his Yankees, whipped before,-- "Bay'nets and grape!" hear "Stonewall" roar; "Charge, Stuart![6] Pay off Ashby's[7] score!"

In "'Stonewall' Jackson's way."

[Footnote 3: Ambrose P. Hill was a prominent Confederate general.]

[Footnote 4: James Longstreet was one of the most distinguished of the Confederate generals.]

[Footnote 5: John Pope, the Federal general, was badly defeated by Jackson and Robert E. Lee in the second battle of Bull Run, August 29 and 30, 1862.]

[Footnote 6: James E. B. Stuart, a cavalry leader in the Confederate army, took a prominent part in the second battle of Bull Run, and was with Jackson in other engagements.]

[Footnote 7: Turner Ashby, a Confederate general, had greatly aided Jackson by covering the latter's retreat before General Banks. He was killed in a skirmish in June, 1862.]

Ah! maiden, wait and watch and yearn For news of "Stonewall's" band!

Ah! widow, read with eyes that burn That ring upon thy hand.

Ah! wife, sew on, pray on, hope on!

Thy life shall not be all forlorn; The foe had better ne'er been born That gets in "'Stonewall's' way."

BARON MUNCHAUSEN

INTRODUCTION

Collected in a book called _The Travels of Baron Munchausen_ is a series of the most extravagant stories imaginable. No one can possibly believe them to be true, and yet when we are reading them they do not appear so absurdly ridiculous as they seem afterward when we think of them. The book is said to have been written by a German named Rudolph Erich Raspe, but we cannot be sure of it, as there are no proofs. It is said, too, that there was a German officer, a Baron Hieronymous Karl Friedrich Munchausen who lived in the early part of the eighteenth century and who told such marvelous stories that he was very popular among his fellow officers and that his stories have been collected in a book. The book appeared first in 1793, and some have believed that it was written to ridicule the books of travel which had appeared from time to time, some of which contained narratives not much less incredible than some of the Baron's fanciful tales. It is probable, however, that the book is merely a collection of very old stories with many newer ones included among them, and that it was written solely for entertainment.

The Baron always insists upon the strict truthfulness and accuracy of his stories and grows quite indignant when his veracity is questioned.

To verify his words he printed the following notice at the beginning of his book:

_TO THE PUBLIC:_--Having heard, for the first time, that my adventures have been doubted, and looked upon as jokes, I feel bound to come forward, and vindicate my character _for veracity_, by paying three s.h.i.+llings at the Mansion House of this great city for the affidavits hereto appended.

This I have been forced into in regard of my own honor, although I have retired for many years from public and private life; and I hope that this, my last edition, will place me in a proper light with my readers.

AT THE CITY OF LONDON, ENGLAND

We, the undersigned, as true believers in the _profit_, do most solemnly affirm, that all the adventures of our friend Baron Munchausen, in whatever country they may _lie_, are positive and simple facts. _And_, as we have been believed, whose adventures are tenfold more wonderful, _so_ do we hope all true believers will give him their full faith and credence.

GULLIVER.

SINBAD.

ALADDIN.

_Sworn at the Mansion House 9th November last, in the absence of the Lord Mayor_.