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Un doe symbolaa suivants apparaitra sur la demi^re image de cheque microfiche, selon le caa: le symbote ^^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbola V signifie "FIN". Mapa. platee. charts, etc.. may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Thoaa too large to be entirely includad in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand comar. left to right and top to bonom, aa many framea aa raouired. The following diagrams illuatrata ttia method: Laa cartaa, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent atre fllmte 1 daa taux de rMuction diffarents. Lorsqua la document eat trop grand pour itrm reproduit en un saul cllehA, il eat filma i partir da I'angla sup^rieur gauche, de gauche i droita. at de haut en baa, en prenant la nombre d'Imagaa n^caaaaira. Las diagrammes suivants iiluatrant la m^thodo. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 r^'-fT ^- *.i I: AND CITY LIFE ^^ COUNTRY LOVE 1^5^. . I ASJi V I Ui.K /■iU-.ilS 4 CIIARLKS HKNRY ST. JOHN BOSTON A. WILLIAMS AND COMPANY 18K0 -V— ^ Copyright, iSSo, 'iy C. H. Sr. John. n.r»t.t.- rkrlr.Ky,ir r,v. ,, rnnil,(ll IT«,.„,k I,, ,„|.„ w„v„, X Son. C.,„l,rirtg.. •%rA< r^«/.«A of this little book n the " sur- mml ^ twenty years' ..^,W,«,^-M. author's li'st volume having appeared in jSjo. The first ''Shty-six pages, and also from pages 156 to j6o 'nclus ^^^,^„^ ^^ irnure-poeJ,-ehSy Country Love and City Life, ' ' - u>huh met with a degree of favor on the platform that .an hardly he stsn^dforpublu reatation; but as the author has tlVtT""'- f '■"■''''>'' -A", f^' "-' ventures to put them ur.th other tnfies, betu-een the covers of a book. To the many indulgent friends who have matenally encouraged the publication of these pro- duei,oHs,he author tenders his sincere thanksf and trusts that neither they nor A. may be painfull^ dZ appomted in the result. J "J^ 'tis iii 1 i i i \- CONTENTS. Corporal Day. •.,,,, t Episodes of City Life. Matter o' Money g. The Firit Moustache. ..... 79 Arethusa g Sir Norman of the Vale. .... go Miscellaneous Poems. The Kiver ._ N"* MS Sowing and Reaping , .^ A'cohol ,^g Steam. j AP^" 154 Union. Betty and the Bear ,.g Captain Green's Log-Book. . . . , i6i A C'ouded June. ,g. On the Brink ,(,. Signs of the Times. ,^ The Kingdom of Heaven. .... 167 Anastasia ,^ Y } r I ■It VI Contents Gray H»irt. Song of the Ram. The Seal in Frog Pond. "Found Dead." The Evening Paper, . My Rocking Chair. Op'.y Shadows. . Uncle Ben. Yearnings. . , The Christmas Hells. The Child Jesus. Gretchen. . , Deceived. . Roses and Tliorns. The Press. Emperor Lead. To a Rejected Poem. Keramikal Kraze. . Her Right to Live. . Heart and Soul. , My Hills. . , , 169 171 '73 'rS '77 '79 I, So iSi 1S6 1S7 i.S,S 190 191 •fi m aoo \ Corporal Day. 1 I CORPORAL DAY; i COUNTRY LOVE AND CITY LIFE. In a beautiful region of valleys and hills, Of broad-bosom'd meadows and murmuring rills. Is a fair little village, whose principal street Is shaded with elrvs, whose branches meet Like a gothic aisle, where the heavens are seen In glimpses of azure through hangings of green. A spire or two lift their fingers above, \nd silently point to the mansions of Love ; Two or three stores are enough to supply The people with all they desire to buy ; While up f.om the stream, £ the foot of the hill, Comes ever the rumbling roll of the mill. ■ CORPOKAL DAY. No fiery engine g,«,,h„„d„,„j.. "■•• No, even ,he nerves or .he ,e,.g„p;,„,, The . ,„„ber„„, brain „r, he village .„ .each Thego»p.ha.|.eep3,||.he„„i„^ ;"_ knowing ! ■'^ "" Two or three newspapers come in the bags or the^post, when it co.es. that are 4ered to Ere the next ones arrive with their wonderful lie. To open the mnocent villagers' eyes. Such a quiet retreat, where sluml.r is sweet. Is mdeed very rarely one's fortune to greet- So vastly unlike where the children of fashion ^^^ade for the summer to squander their cash inl Th.sbnght little Edo they never come near: ^.J^^a. there is naught to inveigle them there P^ broken-down ..«.. .ho foolishly think W.n remedy n.ne months of folly and sin, So wuh nothing to coax the shoddyfied folk,. The nanves are innocent, guileless, and kind Tho to savng their pennies .ome little inclined i BLACKBSRRY CSifTRB. j •Tis a dear little, quiet, conservative place. Where life is a joy, not a mad steeple-chas^ • Where no one is wealthy, and no one is poor. And nobody fastens his windon oi door. And the girls wear the fashion of one yelr before T.S a sweet, healthy place ; though, perhaps, to the crusty. The street in the summer may seem rather dusty ; But the water is pure and the meadows are green And. indeed, all the place looks uncommonly clean. A neat little cottage set back from the road Some eight or ten steps was the peaceful abode Of a fair little maiden called Caroline Gray While over the way lived Absalom Day, Whose heart, as they say, Wa.s linked to the heart of Caroline Gray At least, to ,he village 't was very well known ; For m Blackberry Centre this marvel was true. That most jieople knew Much more of their neighbors' affairs than their own I Whatever one did. or said, or tried. Somehow or other, was sure to be spied. There was n't a nun, or woman, ur child. ^ 4 COKPOKAL DAY. Old or young, sober or wild, From the day he was born to the hour he died, But was known through all the country-^de. There was n't a man but could tell to a mill The exact amount in his neighbor's till. And whether he paid his doctor's bill, ' V/hat insurance was on his life. And how much money I.e gave his wife, Kow much longer ran his lease. And just how often he sold his grease ! So, of course, when such affairs as these Were known to all, both great and small. The thrilling fact that Caroline Gray Encouraged the hopes of Absalom Day Was as plain to all the Blackberry people. As the gilded vane on the Orthodox steeple I In fact, their wedding day was known To everyone — but them^^lves a.one ! But neither cared a single cent For all that was said, whatever was meant: They went their ways, They dreamed tlieir dreams, They said their says, And schemed tlieir schemes. And oh I such walks tovE's roatrc dksam. And endless talks. O'er breezy hills — by haunted streams ! What magical castles, sublime and grand, They built as they loite 'd hand-in-hand ! Not all of them airy or based on sand ; For thro' the bright tears that biiided their eyes, They saw the fair summits of promise rise : They saw a church, and before the rail, A handsome youth and a maiden \a\t : (The maiden jwle was Caroline Gray, And the handsome youth was Absalom Day.) And they saw a farm in that beautiful land. With waving fields on every hand. And forests deep, and orchards rare. Whose bloom lent fragrance to the air ; And a beautiful cottage, where roses twine ; And a horse or two, and a couple of kine, And ducks and geese, and a (at little hog, And a snipperty-soapperty i)oodle-dog ! And they dreamt that all these things, you know, Belonged to Absalom Day — and Co. And furthermore, before the door Of the cottage, they saw — well, less than a score, Say three little youngsters, with brightest eye-., Down in a mud-i)uddle making pies I * COItfORAL DAY. Such the fair vision that dazzled their eyes, Like Jacob's ladder that reached to the skiw | Ah ! don't we remember the sweet !ong-ago When we, now so solemn, were acting just so •' When down in the fire-light, far „„ ,he wane. Wc counted those magical castles-in-S,.ain Most wondrous creations! delightful as dreams Of Arcadian valleys, and mountains, and str-ams. Where naught but enchantment the eyes may behold ; ^ Where the rivulets ripple o'er i.ebbles of gold • Where beauties display their most exquisite chaims, And ,,leasures enfold us in rapturous arms! No dangers appall us -no sorrows enshroud- •N.>..th the burden of labor wc never are bow'd ; Where all we may sigh for we sureiy shall gain. ' No summit so lofty we cannot attain ; Where honors are strewn like the leaves of the grove. And glories Illume us wherever we myc. So real they seem'd, W'e > new not we /i_y hat." This is the way you'll mostly find The disappointed ease their mind. Whose chance is poorer of getting a bid, Than finding the treasure of Captain Kidd. Dut Absalom very well knew indeed What people said; for could n't he read The scornful looks that were always cast By certain people whene'er they passed, With envious mutterings such as this, (By the meet in' -house door !) As full of spite as a seri)ent's hiss: "And /te so poorl But, land I you know Sich fools will always be doin' so." ? "Oh, yes! " j iiinies in some ancient maid; "'Tis a wonder to me she isn't afraid Of comin' to want ; you would i.'t kitch me 1 Oh, nol" TH£ COVNTRr STORE. But then she happen'd to see That Absalom caught the words she said, And so the tip of her nose grew red, Which was all the blushing that came to view. As she tries to stammer out, ' How d'ye do?" When Absalom Day, In reply may say, " Not much the better, old maid, for you ! " I've nothing to say 'gainst church or steeple, Against the pastor or yet the people; But this, I think, you'll find the case, That there is no more likely place For finding out the latest news. Than down among the narrow i)ews. Now Abialom Day, like a Scottish laird, Was certainly poor and proud ; But his was a heart that could n't oe scared, Antl a head that could n't be bowed. He was only a clerk in the country store. Where all was sold — and a little more : Pins and pijjcs, and tea and nails, Sugp.r and ribbon, flannel and jwils. Boots and butter, a^.i tops and ta|w, Whiting and blacking, molxsses a.id crajic. >i(iMw«*^«»*«aaa«a lo CORPOKAC DAY. Corn and crockery, leather and cheese. Syrup for babes and poison for fleas, And strings of onions and pens and' ink And. out of a demijohn, something to drink ! VVhere onceinawhile the stage-coach atopp'd. And down a hungry mail-bag dropp'd, Which Calvin More, who kept the store. With dark, mysterious visage bore Behind the counter, into a niche, Sacred to letters, papers, and "sich." While pretty gossips waited without. Loudly ribbon'd and lavishly curl'd, _ Half-expecting and half-in-doubt, — Wriggling, giggling, roguish romps, Charmingly guiltless of all the pomps, ^i not the vanities of the world. •Twas the grand exchange of scandal and news And a wonderful place to cure the blues ; For there from morn till nine or ten, You'd generally find the leading men, — The men who held official station, (You'd think, indeed, they .uled ihe nation -) Deacon Dotkl. and Father Hobb. And queer old Uncle Nathan Cobb, Captain Keene. of martial mien. SBEKS HtS FORTUNE. It And the village infidel, Orville Green. With lesser lights mixed in between. You'd see them all some frosty night When snow is crisp and stars are bright. As round the red-hot stove they sit. And smoke, and chew, and talk, and spit. And spin their yarns of this and that. From Hobbses' farm to Cobbses' cat I Such was the place where Absalom Day Wore the prime of his youth away; Till all-at-once he began to say, "This kind of life will never pay ! I'll toss my bundle upon my back, And off I'll tramp to the railroad-track. And take the cars for Boston, where I'll make my fortune, and then appear Sudden, some morn, to charming Carrie, And ask her right away to marry ! And then how all the village will stare! Ha, ha ! who says that Absalom Day Doesn't know how to make his way?" Ar.d then would Alwalom nod and wink. And laugh in his sleeve, till his eyes did blink In the bright eflTulgence of his dreams. His radiant hopes and brilliant schemes 18 CORPOKAL DAY. So time wore on from week to week, Till Absalom Day procured the cheek About his great designs to si)eak. 'Twos a heavenly night ! The moon shone bright Over the sliimb'ring trees, And the dreamy scent Of the violets blent With the freshness of the breeze; And the twinkling stars But let them twink; For all I really want to say Is simi)ly this, that Absalom Day Was going away, and, of course, the pink Died out in the cheeks of Caroline Gray, As they stooil entwined in a kind of a wiy That some, i)crhaps, very silly may think. They vow'd to love, and they pron-.ised to write. And i.ledged to dream cf each other at night. And they said such love could never be bought For gold or silver, —and so they thought; And bo, {)oor things ! They barter'd their rings, And bade each other adieu. I SKES THE CITY. IL Smiles and blushes and sighs and tears Write the record of human years ; And all our sorrows and joys and cares. Gains and losses and hopes and fears Fade in blushes and sig.'s and tears. • « Bricks and mortar and dust and stones, Crowded streets and aching bones. Nothing to do and not much cash, Arj I board to "ay for attic and "hash;" No wonder Absalom thought himself rash, As he toss'd and turn'd on his sleepless bed, With a burden'd heart and an aching head. Yet never a word he dared to write To Carrie Gray of his serious plight • Nor did he dream of her scarce a night, But he was sure to 'wake in a fright ! Now was the time to test and settle The strength and weight of Absalom's mettle ; >J '* COMfiOKAL DAY. Now w- the time to gauge hi, mind. - Whether 'twas one of the stronger kind- Whether his bark would breast the wave' Or speedily sink in a nameless grave No friend had he to help him then, As friends are only for fortunate men'; And still too proud to tell his grief lo the one who would gladly grant relief. There was the battle for him to fight. That call'd out all his mind and might; There was the trial for him to meet, The tempter to trample beneath his'feetl •Tis easy to guide the Ixirk aright When winds are fair and skies are bright • But when the Storm-king rules the wave ' Then must the pilot be skill'd and brave! He is a hero who risks his lit For his country's good, on the field of .trife ; He IS a hero who bears his flag, Till naught remains but a tatter'd rag; He is a hero who lifts his arm To shield his friend from fatal harm; He IS a hero who buffets the wave To pl.ick a si;ul from a watery grave - Who climbs a ladder with stifled brelth KAST-WlHDIHtSS, 15 To snatch a babe from a fiery death I Yes ; heroes these supreme and grand, The p.ide and boast of the proudest land. But greater than all is the nameless youth. Whose only shield is the sj^tless truth, — Who laughs to scorn the lempter's power. And stands by the right in danger's hour! 'Twas a rainy night ; in fact, all day The rain came down in a drizzling way ; And the wind was east, ..nd chilly at that. And everyone felt af cross as a cat, — When every jaw with a hollow stump Did ache and shoot and twinge and Jump; And you know it requires the saintliest grace To be calm and sweet with a swollen face. And some with "dyspepsy " groan'd and growl'd, And some with " rheumatiz " hopp'd and howl'd, And others had bunions, corns, and sprains, oarders wanted ' the stranger greets In many a window, and where you'll find " Doctors' " shingles of every kind : Cures by lifting and cures by shaking. Cures by boiling and cures by baking, Cures by drcri«:hing and cures by drugging. Cures by pounding ami cures by hugging, Cures in the light by electric spark. i8 CORPORAL DAY. And cures by" spirits" in the dark; While others cure all human ills With poison —in imperceptible pills! The very home, it seems to be, Where Humbug signs itself " M. D." Here, in a boarding-house, Absalom ate His hash and pie, and daily met A score or so of wretched creatures With hungry looks and wasted features, Who had n't the cheek to csk the master Whether the dish was hash or plaster. Who could n't afford to be unruly, Or even hint the beef was <• bully." Where sour sauce distorts the eye. And painted paste is " punkin-pie," And soda-biscuits, green as lizards, Take the coating off their gi/zards ; And where, like Egy,,fs bony guest' Dyspeiwia grins among the rest ! Ah ! how unlike his boyhood's home. Beneath the blue, unclouded dome, — Amonr the hills!-, he farm-house quaint, With time grown gray and lack of paint; The cosy roon and trun.ne-bed, With snowy sheet and i>atchwork spread. THE COVIfTRY BOY. 19 And well washed floor and rustic chair. And oi)en window that let in the air Laden with sweets of flower and tree. Warble of bird and murmur of bee, And a far-away view, wh.re the mountains rise Like great green steps to the liending skies 1 And how unlike the wholesome " board •* That even " the Centre" could afford •. The yellow corn-cake, hot and sweet, And golden butter, — a princely treat ! The bowl of cream, the berries blue From yonder bank that drijis with dew ; And best of all to souls that feel, A sainted mot"..er bless'd the meal. Ah, how unlike, indeed ! But when He thought of the lives of mighty men. Who left their homes, and fought their way, He clench'd his fist, did Absalom Day, And cried, •• I'll fight as well as they I " Alas ! for the wonderful country-boy, — His father's pride and his mother's joy, — When \o the mighty marts of trade He comes, in Sunday best arrayed, And in the crowded, lonely streets, >o CORPORAL DAY. No fiieiid's familiar visage greets ! And, worse than all, there seems to be No |)lace for such a hand as he : Although equipp'd for any toil, From running a bank to gauging oil, Yet, strange to say, where er he goes. Some i)ert official pulls his nose, By saying, with a saucy leer: There 's no one wants to see you here. Each night, returning to his room, His heart o'erwhelm'd in deep'ning gloom. His roll of greenbacks growing slimmer. The luster of his " store-clothes' ' dimmer. He scarce i)erceives the faintest glinnner This siile or t'other of the tomb ! Ah ! city friends, don't slight, I pray, The country-lad that comes )u.ir way Uncultured he, no doubt, and shy; Hut look in the depths of his honest eye And see the truth and purity there, The manly j>«ri>^.s€, the wort!; that will wear, And traits of charader rich and rare ! I5e civd, at least ; the answer you give To his mild request, in his mind may livf THE BOY OF THS PERIOD. flt To please or plague him all of his life, — A soothing balm or a poison'd knife ! " Kind words are cheap," says the provj-rb old ; *Tis false ! or why are they dearer than gold ? Don't blast his hope, or crush his heart, Or cruelly cause his pride to smart ; For, friends, believe me this is true. He may be rough, uncultured, shy, With blushing cheek and downcast eye, But yet, that boy you deign to view, That boy is just as proud as you 1 And he who laughs at the lad knows naught Of the diamond-seeds of Work and Thought, Or the vein of gold in his being wrought. For who are the m^n that rule the State, — The Rich, the Wise, the Good, the Great? Were they not nurtured 'mong the hills, The blooming fields and sparkling rills ? Or where the pines their tassels shake. Or where the wild sea-binows break? Not down in narrow streets and lanes, Where Folly sweeps and Want complains ; Where hydra-headed monsters glare, And noisome vapors taint the air ; Where human bears and tigers growl, ai CORPOKAL DAY. And human wolves and foxes prowl I No city hot-house plants are they, Papp'd and coddled every day, Afiaid of rain and S!«ow and sleet, Bcnumb'd with cold and baked with heat. And scared to damp their dainty feet ! No city puppets, pale and thin. Familiar from their birth with sin ; Who call their fathers "Gov," "Old Chap,' And in his face their fingers snap ! Vanish'd the dewy bloom of Youth, Crush'd out the sacred soul of Truth , Eager to grasp the poison'd cup That Pleasure's feverish hands hold up I Easy prey of pimp and knave, Folly's pupil. Fashion's slave, Gambler's victim, harlot's jest. Trickster's tool, policeman's jiest, — Drinking, smoking, swaggering, sneaking, Vilest language ever speaking : Virtue-killers, soul-destroyers. Cheating, pilfering their employers, — Such the wretci.-ed youths you meet Crowding every city street ! Glance o'er the list of mighty names THE MBN WHO KULS. That on the roll of honor flamei. And you will find the vast array Did from the meadows wend their way; Stout, stalwart sons of toil were they, Who slept all night and wrought all day. Who breathed the purest air tliat blows O'er blooming fields and driven snows : Lithe of limb and stout of heart, Ready to take the hero's part ; Ready to battle for the right, Ai David left his flocks to fight Philistia's boastful man-of-might. And there, defenceless and alone, Destroy'd an army with ■• stone; So now you find in evcrv town. The men nho bring the giants down. The men who guide the i>eople's wills Were nurtured 'mong the rocks and rilL ! But where is Absalom ? Ijct us sec ; In bed, I guess, or he ought to be. He said his prayers and closed his eyes, In hope that when the morn should rise. Some help may come from earth or skies. Oh I what so welcome, sweet, and kind As dre-'mless Sleep to a troubled mind ! »3 *4 COKPOKAL DAY. III. Peate t Are you dreamt n^^ of peace t 77iere ^s peace alone in the grave ; Anil the battle with It'roni^ must never cease. While there ts a Soul to save / Oh ! place your ear on the Jfeart, Physician of Human Life, And you 7/ find the need of a Afi^^htier Art Than yours in the terrible strife ! Tlie ocean is suit with tears. The wind is Humanity's moan, Tlie earth is the dust of a million years, Ami every Soul is alone ! • * « Oh ! there are seasons when the Past Comes o'er the soul like shadows cxst By drifting clouds o'er summer seas, Whos^ blue waves, crested by the breeze, Grow gray awhile and dark and dun, As if they mourn'd the absent sun. J^ ALONE. The soul grows sick w^n pensive pain, As halC-remember'd scenes arise, And faces flit before our eyes. And words of love ant' lines of song. And deeds and days, forgotten long. Float back in airy forms again. Float back ; but like the fairy biro That trembles o'er the honey'd leaf, — A winged emerald, bright and brief, That melts ere one can say the word, — These visions fade, — a gleam — no more, And leave us lonelier than before ! In Blackberry Centre, you know, we left A dear little girl of her lover bereft : How slowly and sadly the days went by. You could plainly read in her jiensive eye. But what gave Caroline most concern Was to think that nothing o{ him could she learn. They j)romised to dream of each other at night, And every day a letter to write ; But now some weeks had pass'd away. With never a word from Absalom Day ! She knew he had " reach'd the city all right ; " For he sent a message the very next night. »S 36 CORPOKAL DAY. With his street-address and the words above, (But never a line or lisp of I jve !) On a scrap of paper, by Caleb Skeggs, Who was "deown to Ilawst'n scllin' eggs." But whether since then 'twas ill or well With Abbalom Day, she could not tell. Sometimes a spark of jealousy came And burn'd in her heart with a greenish flame: " What ! can it be i>ossible he has met Some city belle ! Could he thus fo.^ ;t, S soon, the sacred vows he niaile ? Can love so bright so quickly fade ? Oh, no ! oh, no ! it cannot l)e ; My Absalom still is true to me ! " And then, with her head on her hand at rest, She watch'd the sun sink down in the west And the birds in pairs come home to their nest. And then she gazed with a litjuid eye On the hilb they climb'd in the days gone by. And she thought of the schemes t..ey had plann'd for life, When she slioulii be Somebody's own little wife ; And the stars look'd sad as they throbb'd on high, And the night-winds wafted a gentle sigh. And the page she was reading while yet 'twas day SHt KltOWS. »7 Was pucker'd and damp'd in a singular way ; For she guess'd, with womanly instindt well, The trouble that Aljsalom dare not tell. She knew how slende; the chance he had, — A motlest, friendless, country-lad, — To reach the goal and grasp the prize That dazzifs so many ambitious eyes. Well she knew of the struggle and strife For the gilded bubble of city life; And she saw him jostled from side to side, Weary in limb and wounded in pride. And what, perhaijs, was worse than all. She knew his means were growing small ! " Whether it please him," she said, " or not," ' Twill show, at lea-.t, he isn't forgot." So ere that night she slept a wink, She took her pen and jwper and ink. And wrote such a beautiful, tender note, As might m.ikc your heart leap up in your throat. We flatter ourselves, we bearded }>ny<5, That we are deep, and can conceal All that we know and do and feel, Our business sorrows and club-house joys, — From the innocent creatures who make our tt \; 28 COKFORAL DAY. But believe me, friend, that they can see Right through and through both you and me I As if your clove or cardamom-seed Could hide thy guilt in wine and weed I Ah, foolish mortal, do you sui)|)ose That only to smell the scent of a rose. And not tne otlor that 's in your clothes. She's got that sweet little, jxirt little nose? Pshaw ! your screen is a jKine of glass. Through which she sees that you are — alas ! hy no means the lion you think within. But a long-ear'd thing in a lion's skin ! No, no, my friend ; don't try to hide Your fear, or shame, or sorrov or pride From the rib that was taken out of your side. 'Tis he'--, to help you in life, and to share Not only your joy, but also your care. The problem that gives you weeks of pain. She may solve with a flxsh of her finer brain. She may not reason as well as you ; But her scissors can cut the knot in two. Let no dark secret ever arise. Like an evil spiri in love's disguise j Unless, indeed, you hapinrn to be A brother of some fraternity ; THE SECKST OP HASONRY. »9 For then, perhaps, she might let it ou.. Whenever she felt inclined to ix)ut. As the story is told of a mason's wife. Who plagued him almost out of his life. To learn the secret, whatever it be, •• Ye mystycke Wonie " of M usonry. Said he, " Now, Mary, if 1 should tell The awful secret, I know very well. That when you're mad, my darling dear, ... U rip it out that all may hear." Said ■ le, " O Edward, never, never ! Twill sleep in my heart's recess forever. Tell me — tell me, Edward, and I For thee will live and for thee will die ! " " Well then, my love, 't is only this". . . . (But here she planteeing used to closing his bliml. They saw, and thought he was out of his mind ! 3» CORPORAL DAY. But •' niver a bit," as Paddy would say, He was only crazed in an amative way, — His soul was stirr'd — he was wonderful glad \ For this was the first love-letter he 'd had : " Dearest Absalom: « ♦ « f^,,^^ UTii/e grass is green ami skies are l>lue ! ' ' cty. "* * "So never despair, with strength and health. Something beyond the reach of loealth. Rain must fall, and the heavens must frown. And flowers must fade, and fiehU groiif brown. And riches are winged like thistlc-do7iout "coming cvcnt-s," or nonsense and trxsh Al)out Cupids and that ; and as for the bill, "Pwas droppM, as it were, in a grorery-till ; For he wrote a receipt, in a business-like way. And sign'd \i, pro forma, " Aiisalom Day." THS tlULD oy D£A TH. 3S IV. *Tit the Fiflit of Death/ and 'twas War's red hand That piiugh'd the furrows and sow' d the grain ; jt was huma,: hearts that enrich' d the land. And the crop grew rank in the crimson rain ! ' Twas here — 'twas here that the flojoer and pride Of the Nation fell when the Reaper came. And the sheaves, as they bent down side by side. Were borne away by the lurid flame ! Oh think, brothers, think what a prtte was paid That the Land we love should be pure and free. That the corner-stone our Fathers laid Should ne'er be the base of Slavery ! Oh say can it be that this blood-bought Land Shall sink to a home for the vile and base f J\^^ t — rather let the waves o'ersweep the strand, A nil dash it from Earth' s polluted face ! 3« CORPORAL DAY, 'Tis WELL, in Heaven's appointed plan. We sometimes fail to grasp the prize For which we seek with eager eyes; For 'tis the search that makes the man. Success through failure oft is found : Had we but reat h'd the place we sought. Or done the brilliant deeds we thoupht, Should we now hold this vantage-grounti ? The little slip, the small delay That brought us panting to the strand. With bag and baggage in our hand, To see the vessel sail away ! — The chance we miss'd by just a hair, That made us mourn our luckless fate. And smite the breast, and cry, " Too late ! " How deep it jjlungcd us in despair ! But, by-and-by, when Rumor's wing Wafts back tlie tidings that no more The fated bark shall greet the shore, How grateful, then, the songs we sing I " We walk by faith and net by sight ; " And, groi)ing blindly in the night, Abundant cause have we to bless The thorns that pierce with sore distress, ^ L SUMTER'S GUH. That rend the flesh, but plainly say : " Turn back, for you have miss'd the way t Here Danger lurks in pitfalls deep. And bogs and dens and chxsms steep I Oh turn and tread the beaten track, — There Safety leads, — turn back, turn 1)ack ! Well, time roll'd on, and nothing yet Turn'd up to save our friend from debt ; Although the secret of wealth to find Deeply exercisee, we come ! " IVe tome to free our Brother, who has cried so long in vain ; IVe come to lift the fallen, and to break the tyrant's chain ; We come to wash our Banner of its hell-polluted ^ls on the field, and the river ran red. * * * Wounded and fainting and carried away. Full soon in the a<5lian, fell Corporal Day! * * * Death gives a brave discharge. No more Shall roll of drum or cannon's roar Disturb the soldier now. Advance, retreat. Are empty sounds ; success, defeat, To him are one. Now gently fold His waxen hands, so white and cold, With decent care across his breast. And lay him down to dreamless rest. 4» CORPORAL DAY. With quivering heart and trembling hand, Poor Caroline Gray, as pale as a ghost, Opcn'd the paper that came by post, And glanced o'er the tier could \y. heard ; But that alone was music, and no sweeter seem'd to be, — A,'.- i 44 CORPORAL DAY. For it brought the leafy rustle of our dear old trysting-tree ! With frciiiicnt intcrniption does he read it line by line, — How the corn-crop is progressir.g, and how flourishes the vine ; Of all that father 's doing ; of something mother sai, with a knowing wink: " The galls l)e all n a hurry, I think ! " " .Xmcn to that," groan'd Deacon Do«l«l ; " But then, to my mind, 't is mighty odd DISAPPEARED. 47 Why sech a sensible gal should go For to run away with a pedler so." " Ah yes ! " says Hobb ; " but thar's none can tell What a woman is till you knows her well." " That 's so," moan'd Dodd ; " without a doubt. They 're all very nice, till they're found out ! " (Here every loafer seem'd to split His sides at the Deacon's pungent wif For nothing, with some, is relish'd so much As a dig at Woman — when out of her clutch ! Besides, there was n't a lounger there But knew what the Deacon had to bear ; With a termagant wife and a si-itfire -laughter. Poor soul ! he was always in boiling water.") Says Nathan Cobb, " I'm inclined to say, She 's gone a-huntin' fur Abs'lum Day ; She had this hankerin' arter the lad. An' you know what a mis'able time she 's had Since he wxs wounded thar to Ball's Bluff." Says Father Hobb, " Why, sure enough ! Thar 's no knowin' what a gal may do. When she falls in love with a boy in blue : P'rhaps she 's 'listed herself — who knows? — An' is nussin' 'im now — in sojer's clo'es! " " Pshaw ! no indeed," growls Deacon I)o«l