Break the News Gently.

ee

Written on the death of Jonn Oxnenporpa, a young soldier who
was killed in action at Cold Harbor, Va., May 1864. His last words

were: “Break the news gently to my mother! tell her I died
happy.”

Afar from his home in the sweet sunny North,

Where the early spring flowers their fragrance sent forth,
Afar from the friends who were missing his worth,

A youthful form lay, on the bosom of earth.

But he heard not the battle’s harsh, death-dealing sound,
For kind spirits of Heaven were hovering around ;

And—sweet thought!—of the one who had given him birth;
Were his low parting words, the last upon earth, |

“QO! break the news gently—of dying and death,

To my dear mother’s ear, with a whispering breath ;
In accents as sweet as a beautiful strain,—

I fain would keep from her loved bosom all pain.

“Ol! break the news gently !—with me all is well,
Whisper how happy and peaceful I fell, ©

She will miss me at home, noon, at eve, evermore!

I But we'll meet pure and free on the shadowless shore.”

Then the fair brow grew fairer—the soul shining through,
And he seemed to exhale like some rose perfumed dew;
And strangers around him, with pitying hearts wept,
But free from life’s battle he peacefully slept.

 

 

 

 

 

aE A