And sink to sleep in the great sea-deep, And theirs was a bliss more fair than this A brighter and better clime. They swam 'mid isles whose summer smiles Whose groves were palm, whose air was balm, They sailed all day through creek and bay, And at night they sank on a coral bank, And the monsters vast of ages past They saw them ride in their power and pride, And hand in hand, from strand to strand, These fairy shells, with their crystal cells, And they came at last to a sea long past, The Almighty's breath spoke out in death, So the nautilus now in its shelly prow, Still seems to seek, in bay and creek, And alike do we, on life's stormy sea, As we roam from shore to shore, Yet the hope how sweet, again to meet, As we look to a distant strand, Where heart meets heart, and no more they part Who meet in that better land. ANONYMOUS. Carmen Bellicosum. IN their ragged regimentals When the grenadiers were lunging, Cannon-shot; When the files Of the isles, [rampant From the smoky night encampment, bore the banner of the Unicorn, [drummer, And grummer, grummer, grummer rolled the roll of the Through the morn! Then with eyes to the front all, Stood our sires; And the balls whistled deadly, And in streams flashing redly As the roar On the shore, Swept the strong battle-breakers o'er the green-sodded acres Of the plain; And louder, louder, louder cracked the black gunpowder, Cracking amain! Now like smiths at their forges And the "villainous saltpetre" As the swift Storm-drift, With hot sweeping anger, came the horse-guard's clangor On our flanks. Then higher, higher, higher burned the old-fashioned fire Through the ranks! Then the old-fashioned colonel And his broadsword was swinging, Trumpet loud. Then the blue Bullets flew, And the trooper-jackets redden at the touch of the leaden Rifle-breath; And rounder, rounder, rounder roared the iron six-pounder, Hurling death! GUY HUMPHREY MCMASTER. Doris. I SAT with Doris, the shepherd maiden; And she my Doris, whose lap incloses Wild summer roses of faint perfume, The while I sued her, kept hushed and hearkened She touched my shoulder with fearful finger; I answered bolder, "Nay, let me hear you, She whispered sighing, "There will be sorrow Said I replying, "If they do miss you, They ought to kiss you when you get home; And well rewarded by friend and neighbor Should be the labor from which you come." "They might remember," she answered meekly, "That lambs are weakly and sheep are wild; But if they love me it 's none so ferventI am a servant and not a child." Then each hot ember glowed quick within me, And love did win me to swift reply: "Ah! do but prove me, and none shall bind you, Nor fray nor find you until I die!" She blushed and started, and stood awaiting, So we twin-hearted, from all the valley That simple duty such grace did lend her, And now in beauty she fills my dwelling And love doth guard her, both fast and fervent, ARTHUR MUNBY. The Exile to his Wife. COME to me, darling, I'm lonely without thee; Swallows shall flit round the desolate ruin, Figure which moves like a song through the even, |