articles for magazines, and sketches of travel, all of
which breathe forth a sweet and wise influence.
WORKS.
Silverwood, [novel].
Old Songs and New.
For Love's Sake.
Book of Monograms, [travels].
Beechenbrook: a Rhyme of the War.
Cartoons, [poems].
_Translated_ Dies Irae.
Tales and articles for papers [uncollected].
THE SHADE OF THE TREES.
(On the death of Stonewall Jackson, 1863, his last words being, "Let
us pass over the river and rest under the shade of the trees.")
(_From Cartoons._[24])
[Illustration: ~Natural Bridge, Virginia.~]
What are the thoughts that are stirring his breast?
What is the mystical vision he sees?
"_Let us pass over the river and rest
Under the shade of the trees._"
Has he grown sick of his toils and his tasks?
Sighs the worn spirit for respite or ease?
Is it a moment's cool halt that he asks
Under the shade of the trees?
Is it the gurgle of waters whose flow
Ofttime has come to him borne on the breeze,
Memory listens to, lapsing so low,
Under the shade of the trees?
Nay--though the rasp of the flesh was so sore,
Faith, that had yearnings far keener than these,
Saw the soft sheen of the Thitherward Shore,
Under the shade of the trees;--
Caught the high psalms of ecstatic delight,--
Heard the harps harping, like soundings of seas,--
Watched earth's assoiled ones walking in white
Under the shade of the trees.
O, was it strange he should pine for release,
Touched to the soul with such transports as these,--
He who so needed the balsam of peace,
Under the shade of the trees?
Yea, it was noblest for _him_--it was best,
(Questioning naught of our Father's decrees,)
_There_ to pass over the river and rest
Under the shade of the trees!
FOOTNOTE:
[24] By permission of author, and publishers, Roberts Brothers,
Boston.
CHARLES HENRY SMITH.
"BILL ARP."
~1826=----.~
CHARLES HENRY SMITH, or "Bill Arp," the "Country Philosopher," was
born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and has made a wide reputation by his
humorous letters in the Atlanta "Constitution." He served in the
Confederate Army as colonel. Since the war, he has served his country
still by giving some very sound and good advice in his "Country
Philosopher" articles, seasoned with much humor; and his sketches of
Geo
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