IN MEMORIAM.
WASHINGTON WILKS, DIED 27TH JUNE, 1864.
Last eve he watched with eager gaze
To-day his swift-winged pen hath rest,
No more to portion blame or praise.
Last night the people’s cause he led,
And leading drew the wonted cheers;
A sudden pallor rose their fears ---
The rush of friends was vain: dead! – dead!
He died in harness. So to die
An honoured grave is nobly won,
We grieve, a high career half run,
He ‘neath the sod shall peaceful lie.
The friend of all the sore oppressed,
His fervid, fearless, patriot zeal
Watched jealously the common weal,
And strove that wrong might be redressed.
‘Tis well; - for what God wills is well:
The seed he sowed shall fruitful spring;
And they who harvest treasures bring
Shall of his labours speak and how he working fell.
June 28, 1864
Title:In Memoriam.Washington Wilks, Died 27th June, 1864
Author:unknown
Publication:The Blackburn Times
Published in:Blackburn
Date:July 2, 1864
Keywords:elegy, morality, work
Commentary
This elegy is for the recently deceased pro-Union editor of the London Star newspaper. Wilks was famous for his anti-slavery efforts and his passing was widely mourned, especially as he dropped dead whilst giving a speech on the subject of the American Civil War and the question of emancipation. – SR