Her heart stood still as on she read,
A tear-drop fell on the babe's fair head,
Only a man; 'twas nothing to some,
To these two hearts there is but one,
A husband and father gone at the call
O, had it been he the one to fall?

They never trouble to give the name,
Nor e'en the troop from which he came,
A victory gained is all that's read
By those who care not for the dead.
A wife's fond heart the lines between
Can read of who he might have been.
 

The victory grand o'er which they rave,
To her appears but a soldier's grave.
The war to others is a great success,
A soldier slain just one the less,
But in the heart of that mother there
A wound is anchored beside a prayer.

The paper she reads is laid aside,
The tears that fall she fain would hide,
For her boy looks up with an angel
        smile,
"Will Daddy come in a little while?"
Ah, darling boy, how little you know
That your mother's heart is aching so.
                                           S. M. L.