A MESSAGE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 789, 16 March 1871, Page 3

A MESSAGE.

"After the battie of Forbaoh, a French officer of Cuirassiers was found dead, with a letter, which we copv, crumpled iu his hand." —" John Bull," Sept. 3. It was only a crumpled letter, In a careless, girlish hand ; It was only a childish mes;!tge From the sun-kissed southern land. It was only a brief memorial Ot' the tears the absent shed ; It was a trifle from the living," But a uacss;:ge to the dead! "Father, dear, yon are (jono to battle, But I think incessantly, As I miss your morning blessing. What your Bufferings must be !" So she wrote, and so he held it, With a blessing on her head— When the token of the living Was a message to the dead! " I'm so good, dear —oh, so steady— Yi.u would wish me to bo so ; If I'm quiet, half your dangers Dear mama need never know. So, good-bye, papa! God bless you ! Guard and keep you evermore :—- See ! I send you fifty kisses From an ever-ready store!" It was only a crumpled letter In a dead man's hand, that clay, Just to show bow hearts were aching In his own land, far away. It was only a loving- message From a loving child that sped. But the words the living pencilled Were a message to the dead ! Take it not from his fingers— Lay it with lorn in the grave — If it be a consolation, 'Tis the latest he will have, For I think the bullet reached him As the tender words wen- read ; So that'when the angels told it T'was no message to the dead. —" London Society." F. B.