An' I tell ye what it was, Squar, my boys cum up to the scratch, They all had a share o' the old man's grit, with enough of their own to match They show'd ther colors, an' set ther flint, ther names went down on the roll, An' Benjamin, Thomas, an' Sam was pledged to preserve the old flag whole. They all cum hum together at the last, rigged up in soldier's clothes; It made my old heart thump with pride, an' ther mother's spirits rose, Fur she'd been "down in the mouth" sumwhat, sence she'd heard what the boys had done, Fur it took all three, an' it's hard enough fur a mother to give up one. But ther warn't a drop of coward's blood in her veins, I ken tell you first, Fur she'd send the boys, an' the old man, too, if worst had cum to worst; I shall never forgit the last night, when we all kneeled down to pray, How she give 'em, one by one, to God, in the hush of the twilight gray. An' then, when morning broke so clear-not a cloud was in the sky The boys cum in with sober looks to bid us their last good-bye; I didn't 'spect she would stand it all with her face so firm and calm, But she didn't break nor give in a peg till she cum to kissin' Sam. An' then it all cum out at onst, like a storm from a thunder-cloud She jest sot down on the kitchen floor, broke out with a sob so loud Thet Sam give up, an' the boys cum back, and they all got down by her there, An' I'm thinkin' 't would made an angel cry to hev seen thet partin', Squar! I think she had a forewarnin', fur when they brought back poor Sam, She sot down by his coffin there, with her face so white an' calm, An' the neighbor's thet cum a pourin' in to see our soldier dead, Went out with a hush on their tremblin' lips, an' the words in ther hearts unsaid. Stranger, perhaps you heerd of Sam, how he broke thro' thet Secesh line, An' planted the old flag high an' dry, where its dear old stars could shine; An' after our soldiers won the day, an' a-gatherin' up the dead, They found our boy with his brave heart still, and the flag above his head. An' Tom was shot at Gettysburg, in the hottest of the fray They said thet he led his gallant boys like a hero thro' thet day; But they brought him back with his clear voice hushed in the silent sleep of death, An' another grave grew grassy green 'neath the kiss of the summer's breath. An' Benjamin, he cum hum at last, but it made my old eyes ache To see him lay with thet patient look, when it seemed thet his heart would break With his pain an' wounds; but he lingered on till the flowers died away, An' then we laid him down to rest, in the calm of the autumn day. Will I sell the old farm, stranger, the house where my boys were born? Jes' look down thro' the orchard, Squar, beyond that field o' corn Ken ye see them four white marble stuns gleam out thro' the orchard glade? Wall, all thet is left of our boys on arth rests under them old trees' shade. But there cums John with the cows, ye see, an' it's 'bout my milkin'-time; If ye happen along this way agin, jes' stop in at eny time. Oh! ye axed if I'd eny notion the old farm would ever be sold: Wall! may be, Squar, but I'll tell ye plain, 't will be when the old man's cold. A. ALPHONSE Dayton. L MY EARLY HOME. OVE, Peace, and Repose! the tenderest trio That one word is Home-'mid the hills of Ohio Dear home of my childhood in years that are gone. There, father and mother, two sisters, one brother, In fancy I wander, this sweet summer morning, Many harvests have passed, many summers have ended Long ago, I remember, when thirsty and tiring, And I think of the orchard, and the apples that yellowed, Old home of my youth, so humble, so cherished, When all other thoughts of the past shall have perished, Sweet home in Ohio, now farewell forever! WILLIAM TELL. "PLACE there the boy," the tyrant said; "Fix me the apple on his head. Ha! rebel, now! There's a fair mark for your shaft: An arrow." And the tyrant laughed. Bold Tell looked there; his cheek turned pale Their quivering breath. "Ha! doth he blanch?" fierce Gesler cried, "I've conquered, slave, thy soul of pride." No voice to that stern taunt repliedAll mute as death. "And what the meed?" at length Tell asked. "Bold fool, when slaves like thee are tasked, It is my will. But that thine eye may keener be, Give him a bow and arrow there One shaft-but one.' Gleams of despair Rush for a moment o'er the Switzer's face! "I take thy terms," he muttered low, Sought out an arrow keen and long, |