A Tribute of Affection
You ask me "why so sad today?"
And fain would check unbidden tears,
But know ye that I have a grief
That will not leave my heart for years.
The dreadful news to me is read
Oh, what a frowning Providence:
My husband's numbered with the dead,
My children are left fatherless.
Since Moses fills a soldier's grave,
And in this world of death and gloom
With me is left a bud, if saved
In manhood yet to live and bloom.
What a rebellious day is this,
That southern traitors even dare
To cast our brightest hopes of peace
In graves of sad and dark despair.
The buds of spring around me leave,
On which I often gaze and sigh, —
For earthly joys which nature gives
Are frail and soon must cease and die.
Relieve, oh Lord, desponding hope,
Make known thy mighty powers,
Lest we should fall beneath thy strokes; —
Subdue these Southern foes of ours.
Let Freedom spread her banner wide,
Which now seems drooping, in our day;
We ask thee for Thy hand to guide
And lead us in the conquering way.
Edilda Duty
Friendsville, Ill.
April 1863
Published in the Mt. Carmel Illinois newspaper in April, 1863
(Written upon hearing the death of her husband Moses Duty, who died in Nashville during the Civil War. He's buried in Nashville National Cemetery)
You ask me "why so sad today?"
And fain would check unbidden tears,
But know ye that I have a grief
That will not leave my heart for years.
The dreadful news to me is read
Oh, what a frowning Providence:
My husband's numbered with the dead,
My children are left fatherless.
Since Moses fills a soldier's grave,
And in this world of death and gloom
With me is left a bud, if saved
In manhood yet to live and bloom.
What a rebellious day is this,
That southern traitors even dare
To cast our brightest hopes of peace
In graves of sad and dark despair.
The buds of spring around me leave,
On which I often gaze and sigh, —
For earthly joys which nature gives
Are frail and soon must cease and die.
Relieve, oh Lord, desponding hope,
Make known thy mighty powers,
Lest we should fall beneath thy strokes; —
Subdue these Southern foes of ours.
Let Freedom spread her banner wide,
Which now seems drooping, in our day;
We ask thee for Thy hand to guide
And lead us in the conquering way.
Edilda Duty
Friendsville, Ill.
April 1863
Published in the Mt. Carmel Illinois newspaper in April, 1863
(Written upon hearing the death of her husband Moses Duty, who died in Nashville during the Civil War. He's buried in Nashville National Cemetery)
A Tribute of Affection
You ask me "why so sad today?"
And fain would check unbidden tears,
But know ye that I have a grief
That will not leave my heart for years.
The dreadful news to me is read
Oh, what a frowning Providence:
My husband's numbered with the dead,
My children are left fatherless.
Since Moses fills a soldier's grave,
And in this world of death and gloom
With me is left a bud, if saved
In manhood yet to live and bloom.
What a rebellious day is this,
That southern traitors even dare
To cast our brightest hopes of peace
In graves of sad and dark despair.
The buds of spring around me leave,
On which I often gaze and sigh, —
For earthly joys which nature gives
Are frail and soon must cease and die.
Relieve, oh Lord, desponding hope,
Make known thy mighty powers,
Lest we should fall beneath thy strokes; —
Subdue these Southern foes of ours.
Let Freedom spread her banner wide,
Which now seems drooping, in our day;
We ask thee for Thy hand to guide
And lead us in the conquering way.
Edilda Duty
Friendsville, Ill.
April 1863
Published in the Mt. Carmel Illinois newspaper in April, 1863
(Written upon hearing the death of her husband Moses Duty, who died in Nashville during the Civil War. He's buried in Nashville National Cemetery)
You ask me "why so sad today?"
And fain would check unbidden tears,
But know ye that I have a grief
That will not leave my heart for years.
The dreadful news to me is read
Oh, what a frowning Providence:
My husband's numbered with the dead,
My children are left fatherless.
Since Moses fills a soldier's grave,
And in this world of death and gloom
With me is left a bud, if saved
In manhood yet to live and bloom.
What a rebellious day is this,
That southern traitors even dare
To cast our brightest hopes of peace
In graves of sad and dark despair.
The buds of spring around me leave,
On which I often gaze and sigh, —
For earthly joys which nature gives
Are frail and soon must cease and die.
Relieve, oh Lord, desponding hope,
Make known thy mighty powers,
Lest we should fall beneath thy strokes; —
Subdue these Southern foes of ours.
Let Freedom spread her banner wide,
Which now seems drooping, in our day;
We ask thee for Thy hand to guide
And lead us in the conquering way.
Edilda Duty
Friendsville, Ill.
April 1863
Published in the Mt. Carmel Illinois newspaper in April, 1863
(Written upon hearing the death of her husband Moses Duty, who died in Nashville during the Civil War. He's buried in Nashville National Cemetery)
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