They have filled the ditch with dead,

And the river's running red,

But they cannot win the gateway of Cremona.

All the weary day, again, again, again,

The horsemen of Duprés and the footmen of Lorraine, Taafe and Herberstein,

And the riders of the Rhine;

It's a mighty price they're paying for Cremona.

Time and time they came with the deep-mouthed German

roar,

Time and time they broke like the wave upon the shore, For better men were there

From Limerick and Clare,

And who will take the gateway of Cremona?

Prince Eugène has watched, and he gnaws his nether lip; Prince Eugène has cursed as he saw his chances slip: "Call off! Call off!" he cried,

"It is nearing eventide,

And I fear our work is finished in Cremona."

Says Wauchop of McAulliffe, "Their fire is growing slack."

Says Major Dan O'Mahony, "It is their last attack; But who will stop the game while there's light to play the same,

And to walk a short way with them from Cremona ?"

And so they snarl behind them, and beg them turn and

come,

They have taken Neuberg's standard, they have taken Diak's drum;

And along the winding Po,

Beard on shoulder, stern and slow

The Kaiserlics are riding to Cremona.

Just two hundred Irish lads are shouting on the wall;

Four hundred more are lying who can hear no slogan

call:

But what's the odds of that,

For it's all the same to Pat

If he pays his debt in Dublin or Cremona.

Says General de Vaudray, "You've done a soldier's work!

And every tongue in France shall talk of Dillon and of Burke!

Ask what you will this day,

And be it what it may,

It is granted to the heroes of Cremona."

"Why, then," says Dan O'Mahony, "one favor we entreat,

We were called a little early, and our toilet's not com

plete.

We've no quarrel with the shirt,

But the breeches wouldn't hurt,

For the evening air is chilly in Cremona."

The Hero of the Hill*

BY EDMUND VANCE COOK.

Do you ever stop to watch a horse pull a big load up a hill?

There's something fine about the way he sends his rugged

will

Down through those quivering shoulders, till it seems as if he clutched

And hurled the hill behind his heels until the top is touched.

It gives

man new courage when he comes to his steep

grade

To think of that example which the plucky beast has

made.

But if the load prove stronger; if the horse, with hoofs

outspread,

With reddened nostrils, foaming flanks, and bowing, straining head,

* From "Rimes to be Read." Copyright 1905, Dodge Publishing Co. Reprinted by permission of the author.

Surrenders to the inert mass, while the driver's only

helps

Are strident oaths and savage sound of the hot whip's snaps and yelps,

Why then the chief result is that it makes a fellow feel He'd like to take that driver's head to block the slipping wheel!

But I remember one time when the driver had a heart, And worked with mind and muscle to release the stubborn cart

From the clay-rut, when some soldiers who were loafing in the sun

Let fall their lazy jaws to laugh and let their cheap wit

run.

One cried, "Say, take that bag of bones and feed him to the crows!"

And "Oh, he'd scare the crows away," the mocking

answer rose.

"It'll take a small torpedo, if you ever move that beast." "Better get one of the size of that which wrecked the 'Maine,' at least."

So ran the jeering comments, till at last a bugler said, "Say, driver, if I blow the charge, d'ye think he'd drop down dead ?"

It was then the driver answered, "Well, he might; but

let me say

That this old horse has heard the charge when it meant 'Charge!' to obey.

Not on the dress-parade grounds along with chaps like

you,

But on the fields of Cuba where the Spanish bullets flew; And though he's drifted back to me and don't look very

trim,

I tell you he's a vet who has the right stuff yet in him.” "Oh, nonsense!" laughed a sergeant, and "nonsense!" sneered the rest,

And the bugler raised his bugle, crying, "This'll be the test."

Then out upon the air there fell a dozen liquid tones,
Like prophecies of glory mingling with the ghosts of

groans,

The sound the soldier hears-and cheers-although its mellow breath

May send him where the cannon belch their black and bitter death,

The sound which cries, "Destroy, destroy! and let the list be large!"

The ringing of the bugle when it blows the battle

charge.

And how the old horse heard it! Up flung his heavy

head,

Wide grew his nostrils, straight his ears, and quick the ferver spread

Through every nerve and muscle, as he forward plunged and pressed

Straight up the steep, despite his load, and stood upon

the crest!

And were the soldiers laughing now?

scoffing jeers

Not so. The

Gave way to shame a moment, and then burst forth in cheers.

And the sergeant cried, "Attention, boys! fall in! dress ranks! salute!

Salute the gallant veteran-our comrade, though a brute. God send him oats and apples and the shelter of a stall, And grant we be as sturdy when we hear the battle call!"

Life

BY MRS. A. L. BARBAULD.

Life! I know not what thou art,
But know that thou and I must part;

And when, or how, or where we met

I own to me's a secret yet.

Life! We've been so long together,

Through pleasant and through cloudy weather,

'Tis hard to part when friends are dear—

Perhaps 't will cost a sigh, a tear;

Then steal away, give little warning, choose thine own

time;

Say not "good-night," but in some brighter clime

Bid me "good-morning."

The Solid Lady Vote*

BY HASHIMURA TOGO.
(Wallace Irwin.)

To Editor who oftenly treat great problems in a very unladylike manner

EAR MR. SIR:

Ladies was discovered in Year Zero by Hon. Adam, famous landscape gardener. When he first seen her he thought she was a plain Vegetable; but when she gave him a brite smile he thought she must be a very delicious species of rare Plant. She have been doing so, thank you, ever since. From the Year of Adam to the Year of Taft female Ladies has not amounted to such awful much. They has been principally useful for perpetuating the Human Race, turning Man into a decent animal and making Life worth living after office hours.

Should we feel amaze, then, because Ladies is beginning to appreciate the deeps of their downtroddery? Ladykind are at last awaking-up from beauty sleep of 100,000 years. A horble War between them two sexes is getting ready to approach. The sweet screech of Freedom is heard in every corner of the Globe. Already there has been several arrests. Boldened by their success Ladies is beginning to say unchivalrous things about Gentleman. Busting from her perfumed cage of centuries, Ladyhood, like a angry tiger, is spreading her beautiful wings toward Albany, where Gov. Hughes sets calm but nervous attempting to think of something else.

Mr. Editor, all-comical papers of England & America is poking considerable humor at Lady Suffergetters. I ask to know: Why should they make such laugh at a Lady attempting to get some rights? The Answer is: Because that Lady are usually quite comical when she are attempting to do so.

And yet, are it a reproach to Suffergetters because they are funny? Answer is-No!! (Multiply this by 1000!) Marters is oftenly very queer & quaint when they are * Copyright, 1909, P. F. Collier & Son.