312 THE SOLDIER'S LITTLE DAUGHTER. And I am very hungry, sir." I brought her bread to spare Then up into the old gray house A tremulous light threw shadows long O! childhood-shrined in deathless song, I asked her name, her tender age; A little maid of seven years, My name is Nelly Grover, sir; My father loved me dearly; And is it true, as people say, That war is ended, — nearly ?” 'T was strange, but as she spoke, I chanced To look my paper over: And there I read "Shot through the heart A private, William Grover." O, awful hour! can I forget Her tears, her broken sobbing; THE SOLDIER'S LITTLE DAUGHTER. 313 The little heart I pressed to mine And as the light grew dimmer, "I sleep beneath the traitor's sod I died for Liberty; I give my spirit unto God, My little child to thee. "Teach her to hold as sacred trust Thus to my home, most tenderly, 314 LAST WORDS. LAST WORDS. BY HORATIO ALGER, JR. DEAR Charlie," breathed a soldier, "O, comrade, true and tried, Who in the heat of battle I fain would have you with me, "It seems so sudden, Charlie ; "Twould bring my last campaign; "There's one at home, dear Charlie, Will mourn for me, when dead, Whose heart — it is a mother's Can scarce be comforted. LAST WORDS. You'll write and tell her, Charlie, "And you will tell her, Charlie, She must not grieve too much; Or turn ignobly back, When Duty's voice cries' Forward!' "And there's another, Charlie, This locket in my bosom, I left my native village, For the fearful scenes of war. "Give her this message, Charlie, Sent with my dying breath : To her and to my banner, I'm faithful unto death.' 315 316 LAST WORDS. And if, in that far country "Come nearer, closer, Charlie ; The depth of your devotion, Your friendship strong as steel. "We've watched and camped together Of more than one campaign ; Your words sustained my courage, "And once, 't was at Antietam, Pressed hard by thronging foes, I almost sank exhausted Beneath their cruel blows, |