Twilight Stories Part 18

Quick as it fell from the broken staff, Dame Barbara s.n.a.t.c.hed the silken scarf;

She leaned far out on the window sill, And shook it forth with a royal will.

"Shoot if you must this old gray head,-- But spare your country's flag," she said.

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame, Over the face of the leader came;

The n.o.bler nature within him stirred To life at that woman's deed and word.

"Who touches a hair of yon gray head Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.

All day long through Frederick street Sounded the tread of marching feet.

All day long that free flag tossed Over the heads of the rebel host;

Ever its torn folds rose and fell On the loyal winds that loved it well;

And through the hill-gaps, sunset light Shone over it with a warm good-night.

Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er, And the rebel rides on his raids no more.

Honor to her!--and let a tear Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.

Over Barbara Frietchie's grave, Flag of Freedom and Union wave!

Peace, and order, and beauty, draw Round thy symbol of light and law;

And ever the stars above look down On thy stars below at Frederick town!

JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER.

A st.u.r.dy cow-boy I would be And chase this buffalo out in the West.

An Indian pony I know I could ride, And "round up" with all the rest.

SHERIDAN'S RIDE.

(Used by special arrangement with J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, publisher of Mr. Read's Poems.)

Up from the South at break of day, Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay, The affrighted air with a shudder bore, Like a herald in haste, to the chieftain's door, The terrible grumble and rumble and roar, Telling the battle was on once more, And Sheridan twenty miles away.

And wilder still those billows of war Thundered along the horizon's bar, And louder yet into Winchester rolled The roar of that red sea uncontrolled, Making the blood of the listener cold As he thought of the stake in that fiery fray, And Sheridan twenty miles away.

But there is a road from Winchester town, A good, broad highway leading down; And there through the flash of the morning light, A steed as black as the steeds of night, Was seen to pa.s.s as with eagle's flight-- As if he knew the terrible need, He stretched away with the utmost speed; Hills rose and fell--but his heart was gay, With Sheridan fifteen miles away.

Still sprung from these swift hoofs, thundering South, The dust, like the smoke from the cannon's mouth,

Or the trail of a comet sweeping faster and faster, Foreboding to traitors the doom of disaster; The heart of the steed and the heart of the master, Were beating like prisoners a.s.saulting their walls, Impatient to be where the battle-field calls; Every nerve of the charger was strained to full play, With Sheridan only ten miles away.

Under his spurning feet the road Like an arrowy Alpine river flowed; And the landscape sped away behind Like an ocean flying before the wind.

And the steed, like a bark fed with furnace ire, Swept on with his wild eyes full of fire, But lo! he is nearing his heart's desire-- He is snuffing the smoke of the roaring fray, With Sheridan only five miles away.

The first that the General saw were the groups Of stragglers, and then the retreating troops; What was done--what to do--a glance told him both, And striking his spurs with a terrible oath, He dashed down the line 'mid a storm of huzzahs, And the wave of retreat checked its course there because The sight of the master compelled it to pause.

With foam and with dust the black charger was gray, By the flash of his eye, and his red nostrils' play, He seemed to the whole great army to say, "I have brought you Sheridan all the way From Winchester down to save the day!"

Hurrah, hurrah for Sheridan!

Hurrah, hurrah for horse and man!

And when their statues are placed on high Under the dome of the Union sky-- The American soldiers' Temple of Fame-- There with the glorious General's name Be it said in letters both bold and bright: "Here is the steed that saved the day By carrying Sheridan into the fight, From Winchester--twenty miles away!"

T. B. READ.

See-saw, Margery Daw, Jenny shall have a new master, She shall have but a penny a day, Because she can't work any faster.

An old Hippopotamus lived on the Nile, If she hasn't gone away, she's been there quite a while.

She gives all her children a ride on her back, Broad enough to accommodate the whole scrambling pack.

THE CHILDREN'S HOUR

Between the dark and daylight, When the night is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the day's occupations That is known as the Children's Hour.

I hear in the chamber above me The patter of little feet, The sound of a door that is opened, And voices soft and sweet.

From my study I see in the lamp-light, Descending the broad hall-stair, Grave Alice and laughing Allegra, And Edith with golden hair.

A whisper, and then a silence; Yet I know by their merry eyes They are plotting and planning together To take me by surprise.

A sudden rush from the stairway, A sudden raid from the hall!

By three doors left unguarded They enter my castle wall!

They climb up into my turret, O'er the arms and back of my chair; If I try to escape, they surround me, They seem to be everywhere.

They almost devour me with kisses; Their arms about me entwine, Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!

Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti, Because you have scaled the wall, Such an old Mustache as I am Is not a match for you all?

I have you fast in my fortress, And will not let you depart, But put you down in the dungeon, In the round-tower of my heart.

And there I will keep you forever, Yes, forever and a day, Till the walls shall crumble to ruin, And moulder in dust away.

HENRY W. LONGFELLOW.