WHEN THE BOYS COME HOME.

The boys are coming home again,
This war will soon be o’er,
The Southern land again will stand,
As happy as of yore;
Yes, hand in hand, and arm in arm,
Together we will roam,
Oh! won’t we have a happy time,
When all the boys come home.
Chorus.—We’ll hoist the starry cross again,
On freedom’s lofty dome;
And live in peace and happiness,
When all the boys come home.
We’ll hoist the starry cross again,
On freedom’s lofty dome;
And live in peace and happiness,
When all the boys come home.
We’ll have no more false hopes and fears,
No more heartrending sighs—
The messengers of peace will dry
The weary mourner’s eyes,
We’ll laugh and sing, we’ll dance and play,
Oh! wait until they come,
And joy will crown the happy day,
When all the boys come home.
Chorus.

How proud our nation then will stand!
United evermore,
We’ll bid defiance to the foe,
That dare approach our shore,
We’ll hoist the starry cross again,
On freedom’s lofty dome,
And live in peace and happiness,
When all the boys come home.
Chorus.

THE DRUMMER BOY OF SHILOH.

On Shiloh’s dark and bloody ground the dead and wounded lay,
Amongst them was a drummer boy that beat the drum that day;
A wounded soldier raised him up—his drum was by his side—
He clasped his hands, and raised his eyes, and prayed before he died.
“Look down upon the battlefield, O Thou our heavenly Friend,
Have mercy on our sinful souls”—the soldiers cried, “Amen!”
For gathered ’round, a little group, each brave man knelt and cried—
They listened to the drummer boy who prayed before he died.

“Oh, Mother,” said the dying boy, “Look down from Heaven on me!
Receive me to thy fond embrace! Oh, take me home to thee!
I’ve loved my country as my God, to serve them both I’ve tried,”
He smiled, shook hands, death seized the boy who prayed before he died.
Each soldier wept then like a child—stout hearts were they and brave—
The Flag his winding-sheet! God’s Book the key unto his grave;
They wrote upon a simple board these words, “This is a guide,
To those who mourn the drummer boy who prayed before he died.”

Alabama Volunteer Corps.

OLD STONEWALL.