A Parable Dedicated to the Loyal Soldiers of the North

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008

Imprint, 8p. oblong octavo, with illustrations, c. 1864, and reads in part: “...In a little log church in the State of Virginia some negroes had gathered to worship the Lord; And after the service they had a class meeting, That each for the Master might utter a word. Their leader exhorted, and spoke of the warfare which Christians should wage against error always; And finished by asking the following question: Which way is your musket a p’intin’ today? One after another they gave their experience; Some brothers were happy, some lukewarm or cold; One saw his way clear to the portals of glory, Another had strayed like a lamb from the fold. At last Brother Barkis - a renegade member, And Satan’s companion for many a day - Arose, cleared his throat, though visibly nervous, He folded his arms and proceeded to say; Deear Brudders and sisters, I once was a Christian, I once was as happy as any one here; I fit for de church like a battle scarred soldier; And stood by her banners when traitors were near. Hold on dar, the leader excitedly shouted; Please answer the question I axed you, I say, I’ve give you credit for all you fit den, sir - Which way is your musket a p’intin’ today?...Four million bodies in chains - four million souls in fetters. All the sacred relations of wife, mother, father, and child trampled beneath the brutal feet of might. And all this was done under our own beautiful banner of the free. The past rises before us, we hear the roar and shriek of the bursting shell. The broken fetters fall. These heroes died. We look. Instead of slaves we see men and women and children. The wand of progress touches the auction-block, the slave-pen, the whipping-post, and we see homes and firesides, and school-houses and books, and where all was want and crime and cruelty and fear we see the faces of the free. These heroes are dead. They died for liberty - they died for us. They are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless...I have one sentiment for the soldiers, living and dead - cheers for the living, tears for the dead...” Fine.

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