Title:

Facing pages [18-19]

Date:

18640118-18640119

A cold rainy and very disagreeable day, poured several inches deep, do not feel very well today. Time seems to go very slow. No news from home. Lieut. Kennedy of Leo B. has just returned from Furlough, he reports that the trains were colided near Washigntion with a train from Brandy Station. had a good long conversation with Dr. [illegible], read several [illegible] in Byron's [illegible] Harold, [illegible] is a sublime book. [a clipping is below text] <Yankee Noshuns.—The noshun that skule houzes are cheaper that staits prizins. The noshun that people who have branes enuff kant be guverned by enybudy but themselves. the noshun that the world is the markit for a man's wits. The noshun that if you kant make a man think as you do, try and make him do as you think. The noshun that the United States iz liable at any time to be doubled, but aint liable at any time to be divided. The noshun that Uncle Same kan thrash his own children when tha need it, and kan thrash the whole world besides when tha need it. The noshun that the Yankees are forerdained rase, and cant be kept from spredding the strikin in eny more thatn turpentine when it wuns get luce Josh Billings.> Very cold windy day kept house for the Dr. most all day, felt much better than usual. Spent my time in reading and finishing Byron's Childe Harold. Wish I had his other works if they are as good as this also read and copied into my old Diary must send it home. soon two rebels deserted and came over to our lines last night no news from any place home mother or any other relative all seem to have forgotten me. Wrote a letter for one of the sickest men in our hospital he was too weak himself. [ a clipping is below text] <Original The Patriot Maiden's Prayer, The whispering sephyrs haste away, the trembling leaves forget their play, Silecne triumphant now bears sway, For converse man with God doth dare; While hovering ones surround his way, To upward speed with loving care The soul's devotion-breathing prayer, That heavenly cheer may swift repair. In silent worship bendeth low The maiden, and her tears do flow, A sight so beautiful below. To heights of joy each heart doth raise; With rapture peep their faces glow, And even Nature breathes sweet praise; The moon's pure robe the scene arrays, And distant stars dart kissing rays. The maiden's prayer took noiseless flight From mortal soul to immortals bright; And, as through starry worlds of light They swiftly mount to that fair land Where dwells no sorrow, death, or night, The prayer that to the guardian band Such music breathedm, at one command, they chant in chorus, full and grand. What stirring strains! High heaven's concave Expands her 'normous ear to save Each tone so passing sweet. But grave and sad those voices murmur now; And now widly beseech they, save our land, the oppressor's head low bow, With David's strength our brave endow! Oh, breathe thy care on william's brow.>

English

Collection:

Henry O. Nightingale diaries