Turned the dead faces up to the light, Listening for word or voice From husband, or father, or boys; Questioning, seeking Over the torn sod, reeking With the blood of Groton Height. And there by the sally-port, Where the foe had entered the fort, His bosom gored by his own brave sword, For the right. LEONARD WOOLSEY BACON THE SOLDIER'S DREAM. OUR bugles sang truce, for the night-cloud had lowered, When reposing that night on my pallet of straw, Methought from the battle-field's dreadful array, To the home of my fathers, that welcomed me back. I flew to the pleasant fields, traversed so oft In life's morning march, when my bosom was young, I heard my own mountain-goats bleating aloft, And knew the sweet strain that the corn-reapers sung Then pledged we the wine-cup, and fondly I swore And my wife sobbed aloud in her fulness of heart. "Stay, stay with us, rest, thou art weary and worn !" THOMAS CAMPBELL. CRESCENTIUS. (Sismondi, in his "Italian Republics," says that "Crescentius, who obtained the title of Consul A.D. 980, attempted to restore Rome to her former liberty and glory. He capitulated to Emperor Otho III., and was put to death.") I LOOKED upon his brow,-no sign Of guilt or fear was there; He stood as proud by that death-shrine As even o'er despair He had a power; in his eye There was a deathless energy, A spirit that could dare The deadliest form that death could take, And dare it for the daring's sake. He stood, the fetters on his hand,— And had that grasp been on the brand, With freer pride than it waved now. The rack, the chain, the axe, the wheel, I saw him once before; he rode And tens of thousands thronged the road, His helm, his breastplate, were of gold, The sun shone on his sparkling mail, But now he stood, chained and alone, He bent beneath the headsman's stroke A wild shout from the numbers broke It was a people's loud acclaim, LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON. OUR FATHERS' GOD. HYMN OF THE VAUDOIS MOUNTAINEERS. For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers' God. Thou hast made Thy children mighty by the touch of the mountain sod, Thou hast fixed our ark of refuge where the spoiler's foot ne'er trod; For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers' God. We are watchers of a beacon whose light must never die; For the dark-resounding caverns, where Thy still, small voice is heard; For the strong pines of the forests, that by Thy breath are stirred; For the storms, on whose free pinions thy spirit walks abroad; For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers' God. The royal eagle darteth on his quarry from the heights, And the stag that knows no master seeks there his wild de lights; But we for Thy communion have sought the mountain sod; The banner of the chieftain far, far below us waves; The war-horse of the spearman cannot reach our lofty caves; The dark clouds wrap the threshold of Freedom's last abode; For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers' God. For the shadow of Thy presence, round our camp of rock outspread; For the stern defiles of battle, bearing record of our dead; sod; For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers' God. FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS. UNION AND LIBERTY. FLAG of the heroes who left us their glory, Borne through their battle-fields' thunder and flame, Sprinkled with starry light, Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore, Loud rings the nation's cry, Union and Liberty, one evermore! Light of our firmament, guide of our nation, Empire unsceptred, what foe shall assail thee, Chorus. Yet if, by madness and treachery blighted, Dawns the dark hour when the sword thou must draw, Then with the arms to thy millions united, Smite the bold traitors to Freedom and Law. Chorus. Lord of the Universe, shield us and guide us, Trusting Thee always, through shadow and sun. Thou hast united us, who shall divide us? Keep us, oh, keep us the MANY IN ONE. Chorus. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. |