He was battling with a fearful foe,
The soldier from the war;
In a fiercer combat struggling
Than the deadly one afar.
In the wild, wild grasp of fever,
Drawing the painful breath,
While the strong delirium brought him,
As they feared, to the gates of death.
No sleep to the burning eyelids,
No moisture on cheek or brow,
As day after day went onward,
Till by weeks they counted now.
He lay in the city mansion,
Above the crowded street,
Where the dusty pavement echoed
To the tread of countless feet.
His brain was wild with fancies
Fitful and feverish all:
He hailed the glorious stars and stripes,
He heard the bugle's call;
He raved of the storm of battle,
Of the traitor host in view;
He called for the deadly bayonets
To charge on the dastard crew.
He saw the tide of victory ebb,
The traitors gaining ground,
And shouted in such wild despair
As chilled the fond hearts round.
They raised the chamber windows
To give the sufferer air,
Though fearing the jar of the world without
Might trouble the loved one there.
But those who watched in anguish
By the soldier's couch of pain,
Now heard his hot lips whisper,
"How beautiful is the rain!"
They heard him speak of the wild-flowers
Far away in the sheltered dell;
Of the breath of the early violets,
Of the snow-drop's waxen bell.
In the calm, low tones of other days,
He talked of the fragrant woods—
Of the grand old trees, the solemn storms,
The dash of mountain floods;
Of tramps with manly comrades
O'er the savage, rock-crowned hills;
Of strolls with gentler dear ones,
By the flower-fringed forest rills.
And the fierce delirium softened down;
The leaping pulse sank low,
And the long-prayed-for moisture
Came cool on the burning brow.
O hot and dusty city!
O thronging, thronging feet!
A mission of love was yours to do
That night on that crowded street!
For the ceaseless, ceaseless patter
Came to the soldier's ear,
Like the falling sweet of summer showers
He used in the woods to hear.
And the dear old scenes came thronging back,
The quiet and the calm;
The dewy breath of summer groves
Floated like soothing balm.
And the tender watchers by his bed
Wept with a glad surprise,
As the closing lids in a healthful sleep
Shut soft on the soldier's eyes!