MY WIFE AND CHILD. BY GENERAL HENRY R. JACKSON.
Reading edition
This poem, which has often been attributed to General “Stonewall” Jackson, was written by General Henry R. Jackson, a lawyer and diplomat, of Savannah, Ga.
The tattoo beats—the lights are gone, The camp around in slumber lies; The night with solemn pace moves on, The shadows thicken o’er the skies; But sleep my weary eyes hath flown, And sad, uneasy thoughts arise.
I think of thee, Oh, dearest one, Whose love my early life hath blest— Of thee and him—our baby son— Who slumbers on thy gentle breast. God of the tender, frail and lone, Oh, guard the tender sleeper’s rest.
And hover gently, hover near, To her, whose watchful eye is wet— To mother, wife—the doubly dear, In whose young heart have freshly met Two streams of love so deep and clear And clear her drooping spirits yet.
Whatever fate those forms may show, Loved with a passion almost wild— By day—by night—in joy or woe— By fears oppressed, or hopes beguiled, From every danger, every foe, O God! protect my wife and child!
Now, while she kneels before Thy throne, Oh, teach her, ruler of the skies, That, while by thy behest alone, Earth’s mightiest powers fall or rise, No tear is wept to Thee unknown, No hair is lost, no sparrow dies!
That Thou can’st stay the ruthless hands Of dark disease, and soothe its pain; That only by Thy stern command The battle’s lost, the soldier’s slain— That from the distant sea or land Thou bring’st the wanderer home again.
And when upon her pillow lone Her tear-wet cheek is sadly prest, May happier visions beam upon The brightening current of her breast, No frowning look nor angry tone Disturb the Sabbath of her rest.