“Soldiers Marchin’ bands a-playin’ cav’lry chargers prancin’ gay
Lord! How I would like to jine them on this Decoration Day.
Like I jine the ranks of bluecoats at Old Union’s stern command
Gosh! That very tune we marched to ‘Way down south in Dixie Land’
“Somehow seems as I remember Trampin’ along the dusty road
How the baby of the regiment staggern’ ‘neath his heavy load,
gazed up at me sort of smilin’ with a brave though tired look,
but in such a pleadin’ manner that his gun from him I took.”
“Such a greatful glance he gave me as he straightened up an’ marched
Tho' my back was nearly broken an’ my throat was hot and parched.
But the little hero suffered worse then me that bloody day
for we fought an’ when ‘twas ended on the field a corpse he lay.
“But he gave his life up bravely, fightin’ with a youngsters hand
till the minie ball that pierced him sent him to a better land.
An’ before he crossed the river----
Where no battlefields he’ll roam---
Lookin’ in my eye he whispered, Take me--back again--to--home.”
“When we sent his body homeward Ev’ry man amoung us cried
for we knew a true blue soldier had forever left our side.
An’ the good Colonel’s eyesight was with honest tears made dim
when for Paul the big guns thundered as the train rolled out with him.
“To north his body journeyed in a Soldier’s grave to rest
Young’uns seem to think wars glory but they’ll find that homes the best.
An’ I heard his poor ol’ mother from which side he ran away
couldn’t live while Paul was buried --- close beside him she soon lay.
“Guess I’d better quil my gazin’ makes my eyes feel kinder wet,
tho’ the stirring martial music makes me seem a younster yet.
Wonder if of all the flowers any for Pauls mound they’ll save?
s’pose they don't know where he’s buried guess I’ll decorte Pauls grave....