02/02/1881 Frank J Ottarson in the Fireman's Journal
THE MARTYRED FIREMAN
Fold gently o'er his silent breast
The honored badge he wore in death,
And reverent lay to peaceful rest -
With tearful eyes and bated breath -
The hero who nor shrunk nor quailed
When bravest hearts from terror failed,
When "Backward!"  from the totter wall -
"Back for your lives!"  was cried by all.
But he nor feared, nor saw, nor heard,
He would not hear the backward word;
The path of duty lay before;
The fireman's badge he proudly wore
Would blush for shame if one should say
He shrank from danger.  "Clear the way!"
Up to the front the hero came
To battle face to face with flame.
One thought he gave to hearts at home,
And eyes that laughed to see him come;
But "Duty, duty!" was the cry -
'Twas duty now to do or die,
He dashed the unbidden tear away,
And foremost led the dangerous fray;
The high wall tottered all aflame:
Then, like an avalanche, it came
Down thundering to the quaking ground,
And built the martyr's funeral mound.
A shriek of horror!  Like a flash
To work his brave companions dash;
With blistering hands they tear the pile -
Their hushed hearts beating low the while -
And soon with streaming eyes they bear
The martyr to the cool night air
Too late!  The fatal work is done!
His crown of fame is dearly won;
Crushed by the cruel wall he lies,
Stern duty's latest sacrifice.
The victim of the battle's strife
Lives in our hearts a second life;
But who the unarmed hero knows,
Who, like this fireman, graveward goes
Contented, in a peaceful sphere -
To live without reproach or fear,
To do all that becomes a man,
And fill the grand though humble plan
By Heaven ordained?  Shall we forget
The hero whose bruised body yet
Seems quick with life?  Let banners wave
O'er martyrs in a warrior's grave;
Here needs no muffled drum nor crepe;
Our very hearts to-day we drape
With sorrow, and sit down to mourn
The hero who will ne'er return.
Lay him to rest; his work is o'er;
Nor sins nor sorrows vex him more;
He filled the Maker's grandest plan,
And when he died he died for man.

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