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For Home

and

Country

And no fond tears save those of heaven,
The glorious bed bedew

Of the last old Scottish cavalier

All of the olden time!

WILLIAM EDMONDSTO UNE AYTOUN.

The Song of the Camp

"Give us a song!" the soldiers cried,
The outer trenches guarding,

When the heated guns of the camps allied
Grew weary of bombarding.

The dark Redan, in silent scoff,

Lay, grim and threatening, under;
And the tawny mound of the Malakoff
No longer belched its thunder.

There was a pause. A guardsman said:
"We storm the forts to-morrow;

Sing while we may, another day

Will bring enough of sorrow.'

99

They lay along the battery's side,

Below the smoking cannon,—

Brave hearts, from Severn and from Clyde,
And from the banks of Shannon.

They sang of love, and not of fame;
Forgot was Britain's glory;

Each heart recalled a different name, "Annie Laurie."

But all sang

Voice after voice caught up the song,

Until its tender passion

Rose like an anthem rich and strong,-
Their battle eve confession.

Dear girl! her name he dared not speak;
But as the song grew louder,

Something upon the soldier's cheek

Washed off the stains of powder.

Beyond the darkening ocean burned
The bloody sunset's embers,
While the Crimean valleys learned
How English love remembers.

And once again a fire of hell

Rained on the Russian quarters,
With scream of shot and burst of shell,
And bellowing of the mortars!

And Irish Nora's eyes are dim

For a singer dumb and gory:

And English Mary mourns for him
Who sang of "Annie Laurie."
Sleep, soldiers! still in honored rest
Your truth and valor wearing;
The bravest are the tenderest,—

The loving are the daring.

BAYARD TAYLOR.

For Home

and Country

For

Home and Country

Border Ballad

March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale;

Why the de'il dinna ye march forward in

order?

March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale!

All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border!
Many a banner spread

Flutters above your head,

Many a crest that is famous in story.

Mount and make ready, then,

Sons of the mountain glen,

Fight for the Queen and our old Scottish glory.

Come from the hills where your hirsels are grazing;

Come from the glen of the buck and the roe; Come to the crag where the beacon is blazing; Come with the buckler, the lance and the bow. Trumpets are sounding;

War-steeds are bounding;

Stand to your arms and march in good order.
England shall many a day

Tell of the bloody fray

When the Blue Bonnets came over the Border.

From "The Monastery."

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

[blocks in formation]

For

Home

and

Country

Come as the winds come, when
Forests are rended,

Come as the waves come, when

Navies are stranded:
Faster come, faster come,

Faster and faster,

Chief, vassal, page and groom,

Tenant and master.

Fast they come, fast they come;

See how they gather!
Wide waves the eagle plume

Blended with heather.

Cast your plaids, draw your blades,

Forward each man set!

Pibroch of Donuil Dhu

Knell for the onset!

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

The Reveille

Hark! I hear the tramp of thousands,
And of armèd men the hum;

Lo! a nation's hosts have gathered
Round the quick alarming drum,—
Saying, "Come,

Freemen, come!

Ere your heritage be wasted," said the quick
Alarming drum.

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