But three feet good of that old wood, When, as in shade the block was laid, The splintered spot which lodged a shot How full of bliss,—how peaceful is That spot the soft nest caging, Where war's alarms and blood-stained arms Were once around it raging. TUPPER. PART XV. War and Peace. DRIVING HOME THE COWS. Out of the clover and blue-eyed grass And fastened the meadow bars again. Under the willows and over the hill He patiently followed their sober pace; Only a boy! and his father had said Under the feet of the trampling foe. But after the evening work was done, And the frogs were loud in the meadow-swamp, Over his shoulder he slung his gun And stealthily followed the foot-path damp, Across the clover and through the wheat, Thrice since then had the lane been white, For news had come to the lonely farm The summer days grew cold and late, He went for the cows, when the work was done; Brindle, Ebony, Speckle, and Bess, Shaking their horns in the evening wind; Cropping the buttercups out of the grass But who was it following close behind? Loosely swung in the idle air The empty sleeve of army blue; For Southern prisons will sometimes yawn, The great tears sprang to their meeting eyes; Together they followed the cattle home. KATE PUTNAM OSGOOD. ROLL-CALL. "CORPORAL GREEN!" the orderly cried; "Cyrus Drew!"- then a silence fell — There they stood in the falling light, These men of battle with grave, dark looks, While slowly gathered the shades of night. The fern on the hillsides was splashed with blood, For the foe had crossed from the other side "Herbert Kline!" At the call there came Bearing between them this Herbert Kline, "Ezra Kerr!"—and a voice answered, "Here!" They were brothers, these two; the sad winds sighed, "Ephraim Deane ! " - then a soldier spoke; "Close to the roadside his body lies; I paused a moment and gave him drink; 'Twas a victory, yes, but it cost us dear For that company's roll, when called at night, Of a hundred men who went into the fight, Numbered but twenty that answered "Here!" San Francisco Argonaut. N. G. SHEPARD. THE COUNTERSIGN WAS MARY. "T WAS near the break of day, but still While in the tents behind him stretched Slow to and fro the sentry paced, But not a thought of death or war Was with the brave young soldier. |