What we have learned of sun and storm Is ours alone to know. The winds are blowing out to sea : Take up thy life and go!" ELLEN MACKAY HUTCHINSON. Where Lies the Land? WHERE lies the land to which the ship would go? Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know; And where the land she travels from? Away, On sunny noons upon the deck's smooth face, On stormy nights, when wild northwesters rave, Where lies the land to which the ship would go? Far, far ahead, is all her seamen know; ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH. Donth and Calm. "Tis death! and peace indeed is here, THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. 649 Because it has the hope to come, Calm's not life's crown, though calm is well! MATTHEW ARNOLD. The Soldier's Dream. OUR bugles sang truce; for the night-cloud had lowered, And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky; And thousands had sunk on the ground overpowered The weary to sleep, and the wounded to die. When reposing that night on my pallet of straw, By the wolf-scaring fagot that guarded the slain, At the dead of the night a sweet vision I saw, And thrice ere the morning I dreamt it again. Methought from the battle-field's dreadful array Far, far I had roamed on a desolate track: "Twas autumn- and sunshine arose on the way 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 From my home and my weeping friends never to part; My little ones kissed me a thousand times o'er, And my wife sobbed aloud in her fulness of heart. Stay, stay with us!-rest; thou art weary and worn! And fain was their war-broken soldier to stay; But sorrow returned with the dawning of morn, And the voice in my dreaming ear melted away. THOMAS CAMPBELL. The Battle of Blenheim. It was a summer evening — Old Kaspar's work was done, And he before his cottage door Was sitting in the sun; And by him sported on the green His little grandchild Wilhelmine. She saw her brother Peterkin Roll something large and round, Which he beside the rivulet, In playing there, had found; He came to ask what he had found, That was so large, and smooth, and round. Old Kaspar took it from the boy, Who stood expectant by; And then the old man shook his head; And, with a natural sigh— ""Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he, "Who fell in the great victory. "I find them in the garden, For there's many here about; And often when I go to plough, The ploughshare turns them out; For many thousand men," said he, "Were slain in the great victory." "Now tell us what 'twas all about," With wonder-waiting eyes— "Now tell us all about the war, And what they fought each other for.” "It was the English," Kaspar cried, "Who put the French to rout; But what they fought each other for, I could not well make out; SUNRISE COMES TO-MORROW. 651 Is it, O man, with such discordant noises, Were half the power that fills the world with terror, Were half the wealth bestowed on camps and courts, Given to redeem the human mind from error, The warrior's name would be a name abhorred; Would wear forevermore the curse of Cain!' Down the dark future, through long generations, The echoing sounds grow fainter and then cease; And like a bell, with solemn, sweet vibrations, I hear once more the voice of Christ say, "Peace!" Peace!-and no longer from its brazen portals The blast of war's great organ shakes the skies; But, beautiful as songs of the immortals, HENRY WADsworth LonGFELLOW. Sunrise comes To-Morrow. TRUE it is that clouds and mist Blot the clear, blue weather; True that when we would do good, True that green leaves quit the wood, Summers lose their swallows: Dwell with pale dejections; True, the rich despise the poor, And the poor desire Food still from the rich man's door, Fuel from his fire: True that, in this age of ours, There are none to guide us- True the plaint; but if more true, Evil comes, and evil goes, Buds and blossoms ever. But fresh springs are coming; Other birds are on the wing, Other bees are humming. - I have loved with right good-will, But I still adore him, God preserves what God has made, Nor can truth deceive us. Let in light-the holy light! Brothers, fear it never; Darkness smiles, and wrong grows right: Let in light forever! Let in light! When this shall be |