The new way of The Soldier's Return/The Soldier's Return

by Anonymous

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THE SOLDIER'S RETURN.

The War for many months was o’er
e’er I could reach my native shade.
My friends ne’er thought to see me more,
but wept for me as for the dead.
As I came by the Cottage blaze,
the evening fire was shining bright,
When through the window long I gaz’d,
and saw each friend with fond delight,

My father in a corner sat,
my mother drew her woeful thread,
My brother strove to keep them chat,
my sister bak’d the household bread.
While Jean aft whispered to a friend,
who still let fall a silent tear,
But soon my Jessie's grief will end,
she little knows her Harry’s near.

My mother catch’d her client sighs,
and hid her face behind the rock,
While tears did stand in all their eyes,
but not a single word was spoke.
What should I do if in I went,
and joy should fill each tender heart,
Some story then I must invent,
to act the poor lame soldier's part.

I drew a bandage o'er my face,
and crooked up a lying knee,
To think that e'en in this blest place,
there's not a friend knew ought of me.
Sae in I went, Tray wagg'd his tail,
and fawning to my mother ran,
Come here she cries, what can you ail?
when my faint story I began.

I changed my voice to that of age,
A poor old soldier lodgings crave,
that very name their love engag'd,
A soldier!-Ay the best we have.
My father drew me in a seat,
“You're welcome,” with a sigh, she said,
My mother fry'd her best hung meat
while curds and cheese the table spread.

I had a son, my father said,
A soldier too, but he is gone,
⟨Have⟩ you heard from him I reply'd,
behind me I left many a one,
And many message have I brought,
to families I cannot find,
Long for John Goodman's house I've sought
to tell him all’s not far behind.

And does he live, my father said,
my mother could not stay to speak,
I all along my Jessie eyed,
she sigh’d as though her heart would break
0 yes, he lives, this napkin see,
at parting his young Jessie gave,
He sent it with his love by me,
to shew he yet escapes the grave.

An arrow darting from a bow,
could not more quick the token reach,
The patch from off my face I drew,
and gave my tongue the well-known spa(illegible text)
My Jessie dear, I softly said,
she gaz’d and answer’d with a sigh,
My sister look’d as half afraid,
my mother fainted quite away

My Father dancing round his son,
my brother shook my hands away,
My mother said her glass might run,
She car’d not now how soon the day,
Hoots woman, says my father dear,
a wedding first I'm sure we'll have,
I'll warrant we'll live this hundred years,
and maybe yet escape the grave.

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