How oft the cannon of the foe hath struck their dauntless breast, While ye smiled o'er the social fire, or found the balm of rest! How oft the shriek of drowning men the startled vulture caught, When ye had closed your doors in peace, and home's sweet pleasures sought! Then wake your songs of gratitude to those who brave the sea, And peril life that ye may live, and still prove fair and free; Amidst your harvest-fields, oh, bid the earnest prayer prevail"God guard the ships of England, o'er whatever sea they sail!" X.-WE ARE SEVEN.-William Wordsworth. A SIMPLE child, with notions dim; that lightly draws its breath, And feels its life in every limb,-what should it know of Death! I met a little cottage girl, she was eight years old she said; Her hair was thick with many a curl that clustered round her head. She had a rustic woodland air, and she was wildly clad; Her eyes were fair, and very fair; her beauty made me glad. "Sisters and brothers, little maid, how many may you be?" "How many? Seven in all," she said, and, wondering, looked at me. "And where are they? I pray you tell." She answered, "Seven are we, And two of us at Conway dwell, and two are gone to sea. "Two of us in the churchyard lie, my sister and my brother. And in the churchyard cottage, I dwell near them with my mother." "You say that two at Conway dwell, and two are gone to sea; Yet you are seven! I pray you tell, sweet maid, how this may be ?" Then did the little maid reply, "Seven boys and girls are we, Two of us in the churchyard lie, beneath the churchyard tree." “You run about, my little maid, your limbs they are alive; If two are in the churchyard laid, then you are only five ?" "Their graves are green, they may be seen," the little maid replied; "Twelve steps or more from mother's door, and they are side by side: My stockings there I often knit, my kerchief there I hem; And often, after sunset, sir, when it is light and fair, My brother John was forced to go, and he lies by her side.” "How many are you, then," said I, "if they two are in hea ven ?" Quick was the little maid's reply: "Oh, master, we are seven!" "But they are dead-these two are dead, their spirits are in heaven!" 'Twas throwing words away; for still the little maid would have her will,-— And say, "Nay! we are seven." XI. THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM.-Robert Southey. Ir was a summer evening, old Kaspar's work was done; His little grandchild Wilhelmine. She saw her brother Peterkin roll something large and round, That was so large, and smooth, and round. Old Kaspar took it from the boy, who stood expectant by; I find them in the garden, for there's many here about; "Now tell us what 'twas all about," young Peterkin, he cries; And little Wilhelmine looks up with wonder-waiting eyes: "Now tell us all about the war, And what they fought each other for ?" "It was the English," Kaspar cried, to rout; "who put the French But what they fought each other for, I could not well make My father lived at Blenheim then, yon little stream hard by; They burnt his dwelling to the ground, and he was forced to fly, So with his wife and child he fled, Nor had he where to rest his head. With fire and sword the country round was wasted far and wide, And many a widowed mother then, and new-born baby died!But things like that, you know, must be, At every famous victory. They say it was a shocking sight, after the field was won; After a famous victory. Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won, and our good Prince Eugene" "Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!" said little Wilhelmine. Nay-nay-my little girl," quoth he, 66 "It was a famous victory. And everybody praised the Duke who this great fight did win." "But what good came of it at last ?" quoth little Peterkin. Why, that I cannot tell," said he, 66 "But 'twas a famous victory!" XII. THE ENGLISH BOY.-Mrs. Hemans. LOOK from the ancient mountains down, oh, noble English boy! Thy country's fields around thee gleam, in sunshine and in joy: Ages have rolled since foeman's march passed o'er that old firm sod; For well the land hath fealty held, to Freedom and to God! Gaze proudly on, my English boy! and let thy kindling mind Drink-in the spirit of high thought from every chainless wind. There, in the shadow of old Time, the halls beneath thee lie, Which poured forth, to the fields of yore, old England's Chivalry! How bravely, and how solemnly, they stand 'midst oak and ᎩᎾᎳ, Where Cressy's yeomen, haply, framed the bow, in battle true; And round their walls the good swords hang, whose faith knows no alloy, And shields of knighthood, pure from stain! . . Gaze on, my English boy! Gaze where the hamlet's ivied church gleams by the antique elm, Or where the Minster lifts the Cross high through the air's blue realm: Martyrs have showered their free hearts' blood, that Freedom's prayer might rise From those gray fanes of thoughtful years, unfettered, to the skies. Along their isles, beneath their trees, this land's most glorious trust Once fired with wisdom, valour, song-is laid in holy dust. Gaze on!-gaze farther,-farther yet-my gallant English boy! Yon blue sea bears thy country's flag-the billows' pride and joy! Those waves, in many a fight, have closed above her faithful dead; That red-cross flag victoriously hath floated o'er their bed : They perished-this green turf to keep by hostile tread unstained These knightly halls inviolate-those churches unprofaned. And high and clear their memory's light along our shore is set, And many an answering beacon-fire shall there be kindled yet. Lift up thy heart, my English boy! and pray like them to stand, Should God so summon thee, to guard the altars, or the land! XIII. THE GIFT OF THE SWORD.-Maginn. I GIVE my Soldier Boy a blade, In fair Damascus fashioned well: Cool, calm, and clear, the lucid flood Be thou, whene'er it sees the sun : The eye which marked its peerless edge, Are gone, with all their flame and noise— XIV. SOMEBODY'S DARLING.- Mrs. Lacoste. INTO a ward of the white-washed hall,- Wounded by bayonet, shell, or ball, 66 'Somebody's Darling" was borne one day : Somebody's Darling," so young and so brave, Wearing yet, on his pale, sweet face, Soon to be hid by the dust of the grave, The lingering light of his boyhood's grace. Matted and damp are the curls of gold, Kissing the snow of that fair young brow; Pale are the lips of delicate mould 66 'Somebody's Darling" is dying now. |