Greensborough Patriot (NC)

December 25, 1862

Page 4

For the Patriot

In Memoriam

Willie J. Montgomery

He is gone! he is gone! the bright spirit has fled;

That form, one so lovely, now lies senseless and dead;

We must weep! we must weep! for our dearest Willie.

Oh, our hearts will break with grief, for he has gone and left us lonely.

None knew Willie but to love him, none named him but to praise,

God cast his shield around him and the armor of His Grace.

He was ____ and very lovely, we are grieved to give him up,

But the Lord has taken him from us, and we must sip the bitter cup.

Oh, how lonely! oh, how lonely, and who can now ____ the stead

Of our good and lovely Willie, for he is dead, oh! he is dead;

God has taken our good Willie to his bright home above,

To rest with bright angels, and sing songs of love.

Sleep, dear Willie, sleep!

The birds shall carol o’er thy head—

The streams shall murmur o’er its bed—

The breeze shall make the forest sigh—

The flowers above thee bloom and die,

But birds and streams and breeze and flowers

Shall ‘joy no more thy waking hours.

Reidsville, N. C.

MINNIE M—

[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]