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V Christmas Verse This page intentionally left blank Without much question, posterity remembers and honors Rutledge more for his prose than his poetry. Booksellers indicate that his collections of stories are in greater demand than those bringing together poems, although the scarcity of both attests to his enduring popularity. Fine copies of his rarest books, whatever the subject matter, bring prices that sometimes reach into the four-figure range. To me much of his poetry seems dated, whereas the sentiments and subject matter of his stories have an enduring, timeless quality. Therein lies one explanation of why previous anthologies I have edited and compiled, all focusing primarily on hunting and nature, have consciously excluded poems even though Rutledge devoted many lines in his verses to hunting and other outdoor-related topics. In the present case, however, it seemed appropriate to include at least a small sampling of verse. After all, Rutledge was South Carolina’s first poet laureate and held that position for many years. He loved the traditional songs of Christmas as much as he reveled in the Hampton Hunt, holiday feasts, and festive gatherings of family and friends. For him the season fairly rang with song and verse, and not surprisingly in his poems he turned to Yuletide themes quite frequently. The selections making up this section of the book provide some of the finest examples of his literary endeavors along these lines. This page intentionally left blank Christmas Eve on the Rapidan (1863)  This poem can be found on page 445 of Deep River (revised edition, 1966) and on pages 16–17 of Bright Angel and Other Poems (1956), among other places. The setting and the subject matter, the Civil War in Virginia, form recurrent themes in Rutledge’s writing. He took great pride in his father’s service during the conflict and had a real knack for looking at the pathos and poignancy to be found amongst tragedy and our nation’s most trying time. A good example would be his wonderful story “When the Yankee Band Played Dixie.” Here, in a poem with a delightful twist, we join a simple soldier on the banks of the Rapidan River as he finds solace in thoughts of loved ones and his religion. Hal looked to the left, and he looked to the right, And he looked where the sycamore glimmered white. The night was asleep, and his regiment slept, While over his comrades a watch he kept. The Rapidan smiled when, clear of cloud, The moon poured her orchid love-light proud. Hal thought of Bess . . . “I believe I can see To read the little Book she gave to me.” From his grimy knapsack by his side he took His love-gift copy of the Sacred Book. “Bess begged me to carry it over my heart, But it’s been in my knapsack from the start.” It was Christmas Eve on the Rapidan, And Hal stood reading of the Perfect Man; Of Bethlehem’s Star, and of Mary mild; Of shepherds and angels and the little Christ Child. Carolina Christmas  200 From the glimmering tree by the river’s shore A rifle’s sight on the sentry bore. By the selfsame light that let Hal read A sharpshooter steadied him for his deed. A dry branch cracked on the ghostly tree, And a shot rang wildling and instantly. At the crack of the branch, Hal the Story thrust Into his bosom, —then writhed to the dust. The surgeon was musing: “A woman, they say, Can keep safe her loved one far away . . . Hal will come around . . . Now who but a lover Would sew steel stays in a Bible’s cover?” Christmas Song  This poem appears on page 345 of the revised edition of Deep River (1966). Its message of goodwill goes to the heart of what the season always meant for Rutledge. No conquest gained, no glory won, No honor bought by sword or pen Has half the beauty or the worth Of peace on earth, goodwill to men. Goodwill toward men, and peace on earth: O there was One who brought this word! This triumph, down the centuries, Alone can joyously be heard. Still golden in the gloom about This message saves us now, as when It first arrived; this gentle charge Of peace on earth, goodwill toward men. Christmas Verse  201 What other message brings us hope? A master race? Some order new? Older and nobler is the faith Men have found beautiful and true...

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