THE SOLDIER'S DREAM.-Campbell. OUR bugles sang truce,* for the night-cloud And the sentinel* stars set their watch in the The weary to sleep, and the wounded to die. 5 When reposing that night on my pallet* straw, of By the wolf-scaring faggot* that guarded the At the dead of the night a sweet vision * I saw, Methought from the battle - field's dreadful * array, I flew to the pleasant fields, traversed * so oft young; our bugles sang one who Life's morning march, days of childhood. 15 I heard my own mountain-goats bleating aloft, C Pledged we the wine- Then pledged we the wine-cup,* and fondly I cup, drank to each other's health. Fain, glad. swore From my home and my weeping friends never to part; My little ones kissed me a thousand times o'er, 66 Stay, stay with us! rest! thou art weary and worn! * And fain was their war-broken soldier to stay; 20 FROM INDIA.*-W. C. Bennett. WILLIAM COX BENNETT (1820- ) was born at Greenwich. His writings are very spirited, and marked by an earnest love of country. He is the author of Queen Eleanor's Vengeance, Our Glory Roll, Ballad History of England and the States that have sprung from her, besides many other poems. "Он, come you from the Indies? and, soldier, can you tell Aught of the gallant 90th, and who are safe and well? O soldier! say my son is safe,-for nothing else I care, And you shall have a mother's thanks, shall have "Oh, I've come from the Indies,-I've just come from the war; And well I know the 90th, and gallant lads they are; com- From colonel * down to rank and file * I know mander of a regiment of soldiers. my comrades well; Rank and file, the And news I've brought you, mother, your Robert "And do you know my Robert, now? Oh, tell me, tell me true; O soldier! tell me word for word all that he said 5 IO to you; *India, a peninsula in the south of Asia, the greater portion of which is under British rule. 15 20 His very words,-my own boy's words,-oh, tell me every one: You little know how dear to his old mother is my son." 66 'Through Havelock's* fights and marches the 90th In all the gallant 90th did your Robert have his share : 66 Havelock, Sir Henry Havelock was one of the great generals durdian Mutiny ing the In of 1857. Lucknow, a the Oh, thanks unto the living God, that heard his city The widow's cry that rose on high her only son to spare! and shot away! And what to his old mother did my darling bid you say?" "Mother, he saved his colonel's life, and bravely it was done; river Goomtee, and capital of Oude, in India. In the despatch* they told it all, and named and praised Despatch, the your son; account of the battle sent by the A medal and a pension's his,-good luck to him I say, 25 "Now, soldier, blessings on your tongue! O husband! 30 that you knew How well our boy pays me this day for all I have gone All I have done and borne for him the long years since you're dead! But, soldier, tell me how he looked, and all my Robert * "He's bronzed and tanned and bearded, and you'd hardly know him, dame; We've made your boy into a man, but still his heart's the same: to head-quarters. He's bronzed, the heat of the sun had caused his skin to turn For often, dame, his talk's of you, and always to one tone: brown. you soon." "Oh, is he really coming home, and shall I really see it be? 35 Did you say soon?" "Well, he is home-keep cool, old "O Robert! my own blessed boy!" "O mother, mother JOHN GILPIN.-Cowper. WILLIAM COWPER (1731-1800), the most popular poet of his day, was born in Hertfordshire. He suffered during the greater part of his life from fits of insanity. Chief poems: The Task, Table-Talk, John Gilpin, &c. Trainband, a company of militia or men trained to act as soldiers. Eke, also, besides. Spouse, a husband or wife. Tedious, long, tiresome, wearisome. Repair, to go to a place. Edmonton, a village to the north of London, where there is an inn with the sign of a bell, Chaise, a light twowheeled carriage. After we is used for the sake of the rhyme, instead of after us. Calender or Calenderer, a cloth finisher. Quoth, said. 'Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious * years, yet we "To-morrow is our wedding-day, * Unto the Bell at Edmonton,* "My sister, and my sister's child, Will fill the chaise; so you must ride He soon replied, "I do admire Of womankind but one; And you are she, my dearest dear, "I am a linen-draper bold, As all the world doth know, 5 ΙΟ 15 20 25 So three doors off the chaise was stayed, Where they did all get in; Six precious souls, and all agog 40 To dash through thick and thin. Smack went the whip; round went the wheels; Were never folks so glad ; 45 John Gilpin at his horse's side 60 'Twas long before the customers When Betty, screaming, came down-stairs, "Good lack!"* quoth he, "yet bring it me, In which I bear my trusty sword 65 Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul!) 70 To hold the liquor that she loved, Each bottle had a curling ear, Then over all, that he might be Equipped from top to toe, 75 His long red cloak, well brushed and neat, He manfully did throw. Agog, very eager, wishing very much. Cheapside, one of the chief streets of the city of London, long famous for its silkmercers, linen-drapers, and hosiers. Saddle-tree, the frame of a saddle. Grieved him sore, caused him to be very sorry indeed. Good lack! or good lady! an exclamation of wonder, surprise, or admiration. When I do exercise, when he attended at drill with his company of militia. Equipped, furnished, fitted out. |