Following the Equator

He was Perry Upson's eldest son, 
His father loved his noble son, 
This son was nineteen years of age 
When first in the rebellion he engaged. 

His father said that he might go, 
But his dear mother she said no, 
"Oh! stay at home, dear Billy," she said, 
But she could not turn his head. 

He went to Nashville, in Tennessee, 
There his kind friends he could not see; 
He died among strangers, so far away, 
They did not know where his body lay. 

He was taken sick and lived four weeks, 
And Oh! how his parents weep, 
But now they must in sorrow mourn, 
For Billy has gone to his heavenly home. 

Oh! if his mother could have seen her son, 
For she loved him, her darling son; 
If she could heard his dying prayer, 
It would ease her heart till she met him there. 

How it would relieve his mother's heart 
To see her son from this world depart, 
And hear his noble words of love, 
As he left this world for that above. 

Now it will relieve his mother's heart, 
For her son is laid in our graveyard; 
For now she knows that his grave is near, 
She will not shed so many tears. 

Although she knows not that it was her son, 
For his coffin could not be opened 
It might be someone in his place, 
For she could not see his noble face.