56
The Old Blue Coat.
THE OLD BLUE COAT.
TENDERLY care for the old blue coat!
Lovingly shake all its foldings out!
Private or officer, ask not to know,
Somebody wore it while facing the foe—
Standing up firmly on Liberty's part,
Dealing sure death-blows to treason's base heart,
Bearing all ills a true hero can bear,
Daring all deeds a stern soldier may dare,
Quailing not, though the swift bullet came nigh,
Striving to conquer, or bravely to die.
Lovingly shake all its foldings out!
Private or officer, ask not to know,
Somebody wore it while facing the foe—
Standing up firmly on Liberty's part,
Dealing sure death-blows to treason's base heart,
Bearing all ills a true hero can bear,
Daring all deeds a stern soldier may dare,
Quailing not, though the swift bullet came nigh,
Striving to conquer, or bravely to die.
Lonely the picket and tiresome the beat,
Burdened the bosom and weary the feet,
Longing eyes turning to some smiling star,
Yearning thoughts resting on loved ones afar,
Parent or children dear, sweetheart or wife—
Visions of those held more closely than life,
Thronging the heart, and filling the throat,
Beating so wildly beneath the old coat—
Mem'ries of anguish and victory too
Hallow each seam of its well-worn blue:
Burdened the bosom and weary the feet,
Longing eyes turning to some smiling star,
Yearning thoughts resting on loved ones afar,
Parent or children dear, sweetheart or wife—
Visions of those held more closely than life,
Thronging the heart, and filling the throat,
Beating so wildly beneath the old coat—
Mem'ries of anguish and victory too
Hallow each seam of its well-worn blue:
