'Twas just before the last fierce charge
Two soldiers drew their rein,
With parting words and shaking of the hands
For they ne'er might meet again.
One had blue eyes and curly hair
Eighteen but a month ago,
While down his cheeks the tears did flow;
He was only a boy, you know.
The other was tall, dark, stern and proud,
His hopes in the world were dim,
For he only thought the more of her
Who was all the world to him.
This dark, tall man was the first to speak,
Saying, "Charlie, my hour has come;
Will you promise a little trouble to take
For me when I am gone?"
"If you write home before you go,
Will you do as much for me?
I've a mother at home must hear the news,
Oh, tell her tenderly."
Just then the order came for the charge,
A moment hand touched hand,
Aye answered aye, and on they ran,
That brave devoted band.
They rode till they came to the crest of the hill,
Where the rebels with shot and shell
Poured volleys of death in those toiling ranks,
And those two soldiers fell.
Now who will write to the blue-eyed girl
What her dying lover said?
And who will tell the mother at home
That her only son is dead?
Two soldiers drew their rein,
With parting words and shaking of the hands
For they ne'er might meet again.
One had blue eyes and curly hair
Eighteen but a month ago,
While down his cheeks the tears did flow;
He was only a boy, you know.
The other was tall, dark, stern and proud,
His hopes in the world were dim,
For he only thought the more of her
Who was all the world to him.
This dark, tall man was the first to speak,
Saying, "Charlie, my hour has come;
Will you promise a little trouble to take
For me when I am gone?"
"If you write home before you go,
Will you do as much for me?
I've a mother at home must hear the news,
Oh, tell her tenderly."
Just then the order came for the charge,
A moment hand touched hand,
Aye answered aye, and on they ran,
That brave devoted band.
They rode till they came to the crest of the hill,
Where the rebels with shot and shell
Poured volleys of death in those toiling ranks,
And those two soldiers fell.
Now who will write to the blue-eyed girl
What her dying lover said?
And who will tell the mother at home
That her only son is dead?
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