Shall we keep Liquor at Home-a Dialogue.Anon.

[The incident related in the following lines is said to have occurred when the French army was retreating from Moscow in 1813.]

TH

HERE was a cry of wild affright,
As fast the news flew on:

"Our foes are coming in their flight,
They will be here anon.

They leave destruction in their track,
And Famine walks behind,

Fly with your all, for who comes back
A ruined home will find!"

Then there was hurrying to and fro,
Along the village street,

And trodden was the winter's snow
Beneath their flying feet.

Laden with piles of household gear,
Creaked on the peasant's wain,
Drawn slowly by the patient steer,
The distant town to gain.

There infancy and tottering age,
The sick and feeble rode,
With cocks and hens, in swinging cage,
Torn from their warm abode.

With bark of dogs were driven along

The flocks and herds in haste;
Behind them sped the young and strong
Across the dreary waste.

2

The Fortress of Snow.

Some strove their stores of corn to hide
Deep from the spoilers' sight,
Before their swifter footsteps tried
Safety to find in flight.

Then wrapped in solitude and gloom,
The hapless village lay,
Silently waiting for its doom

Upon the coming day.

But one there sat, a widowed one,

By all awhile forgot,

Beside her helpless little son,

Within her lowly cot.

She had not strength to bear him thence,
She could not leave him there,-

But trusted in the sure defence

Of Him who heareth prayer.

Upon his bed the cripple lay,
In his accustomed place,

And gazed, now on his sisters' play,
Now on his mother's face.
"Alas!" at length he murmured low,
"I cannot fight or fly:

Oh! mother, with my sisters go,
And leave me here to die! "

"Nay, darling, nay," the mother said,
"Twere death for us to go:

The sky is darkening overhead,
Already falls the snow.

Not far thy little sisters' feet

Could bear them on the way;

And white would be our winding sheet

Before the dawn of day.

"God gave thee to my tenderest care,
Helpless, but very dear;

How could I hope in His to share,
If I could leave thee here?
Could I have borne you all with me,?
I would have fled away;

But when God gives not power to flee,
He seems to bid us stay.