The Gathering of the Grand Army

Through all the city's streets there poured a flood,
A flood of human souls, eager, intent;
One thought, one purpose stirred the people's blood,
And through their veins its quickening current sent.

The flags waved gayly in the summer air,
O'er patient watchers 'neath the clouded skies;
Old age, and youth, and infancy were there,
The glad light shining in expectant eyes.

And when at last our country's saviors came,—
In proud procession down the crowded street,
Still brighter burned the patriotic flame,
And loud acclaims leaped forth their steps to greet.

And now the veterans scarred and maimed appear,
And now the tattered battle-flags uprise;
A silence deep one moment fills the air,
Then shout on shout ascends unto the skies.

Oh, brothers, ye have borne the battle strain,
And ye have felt it through the ling'ring years;
For all your valiant deeds, your hours of pain,
We can but give to you our grateful tears!

And now, with heads bowed low, and tear-filled eyes
We see a Silent Army passing slow;
For it no music swells, no shouts arise,
But silent blessings from our full hearts flow.

The dead, the living,—All,—a glorious host,
A "cloud of witnesses,"—around us press—
Shall we, like them, stand faithful at our post,
Or weakly yield, unequal to the stress?

Shall it be said the land they fought to save,
Ungrateful now, proves faithless to her trust?
Shall it be said the sons of sires so brave
Now trail her sacred banner in the dust?

Ah, no! again shall rise the people's voice
As once it rose in accents clear and high—
"Oh, outraged brother, lift your head, rejoice!
Justice shall reign,—Insult and Wrong shall die!"

So shall this day the joyous promise be
Of golden days for our fair land in store;
When Freedom's flag shall float above the free,
And Love and Peace prevail from shore to shore.