William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
On the Death of Capt. L. StoryH
How hard to trace the maze of destiny;
Born in a northern clime, perhaps we die
Far in the south, no dear relation nigh;
There breathe our first, and here in silence lie.
So the loved youth, the subject of my song,
Sleeps on the Ashley, though from Anglia sprung:
Lamented Story! lamented though in vain,
Who this mysterious hardship shall explain;
That Heaven should such superior gifts supply,
Yet length of days for exercise deny?
Was it for this (your country’s faults discern’d)
You left her, and became our trusty friend;
Forsook your friends, relations, country, home,
And nobly made our injured cause your own!
But see in solemn pomp they move this way,
The youthful soldier to his grave convey;
In steady ranks his comrades silent mourn,
By brother masons, see his corpse is borne,
The pausing drums their slowest notes resound,
The train conducting to the hallow’d ground;
Where the last office by the priest is paid,
As in his honour’d grave the hero’s laid.
Around its closing mouth a circling band,
Of brothers, friends, in martial order stand:
Then in his grave their weeping laurels throw,
And take their last farewell, o’erwhelm’d with wo.