THE FIRST FIRE. Asleep; the laureate-lark of Day At home some even in June; Blithe dance the flames and blest are we ! Knows no lost leaves, no farewell wing- The cricket sings. Its song? You know, Crumble within the blaze!) Of nights a-glow with light that blesses, The cricket sings, and, as I dream, Your face shows tender smile and tear, 263 264 THE SOLDIER'S DEATH. THE SOLDIER'S DEATH. BY NANCY A. W. PRIEST. THEY bore him to a cool and grassy place, So motionless they almost deemed him dead, And fanned with tender care the pallid face, And with pure water bathed his drooping head, Till his eyes opened, and a languid smile Played round his dying lips; and when he spoke, They hushed their very breath to listen, while That low, faint murmur on the calm air broke. "Comrades, my waning life is almost fled; Death's dampness gathers on my brow and cheek, And from this gaping wound the bullet made, The crimson life-blood oozes while I speak. I shall be resting quietly, ere long, And shall not need your love and tender care; Your hearts are valiant and your arms are strong, Go back, my comrades, you are needed there. "But bear me first to yonder grassy sod, Whence I can turn my eyes upon the fight; Gently there. Leave me now alone with God, And go you back to battle for the right." THE SOLDIER'S DEATH. 265 Then his mind wandered; and the beating drum, And the receding battle's frequent shocks, Softened by distance, coming on the breeze, Seemed to him like the bleating of the flocks, Or hiveward murmur of the laden bees; Until there came a mighty shout at length, A cry that rose and swelled to "victory," And, opening his dim eyes with sudden strength, He saw the foeman's ranks divide, and fly. He rose, - he sat erect in his own blood; His heart throbbed joyfully as when a boy; The rigid fingers clasped as if in prayer, 266 AFTER THE VICTORIES. HA AFTER THE VICTORIES. BY HOWARD GLYNDON. A! the wine-press of pain hath been trodden! The perfect, rare wine, wrought of patience, Oh! dark was the night while we trampled And the fiends of the lowest were loosened, We-treading the ripe grapes asunder, Alone in the stifling heat With agony-drops raining over AFTER THE VICTORIES Our weak hands from desolate brows; With a deadlier pain in our spirits, O'er whose failure no promise arose ! Shook the innermost being of justice, And even as we fell in the darkness Falling down, with our mouths in the dust; With toil-stained and redly-dyed garments That betokened us true to our trust, Ha! the wine-press of pain hath been trodden ! Let them come in their redly-dyed garments, 267 |