"God bless you, comrade!" said the Chief,-"God bless your loyal heart! But younger men are in the field, and claim to have a part; They'll plant our sacred banner firm, in each rebellious town, And woe, henceforth, to any hand that dares to pull it down!” "But, General!"-still persisting, the weeping veteran cried, "If they should fire on Pickens, let the colonel in command "I'm ready, General; so you let a post to me be given, And say to Putnam at his side, or, may be, General Wayne,'There stands old Billy Johnson, who fought at Lundy's Lane l' "And when the fight is raging hot, before the traitors fly,When shell and ball are screeching, and bursting in the sky, If any shot should pierce through me, and lay me on my face, My soul would go to Washington's, and not to Arnold's place!" THE GHOST. 'Tis about twenty years since Abel Law, A short, round-favored, merry Old soldier of the Revolutionary War, Was wedded to A most abominable shrew. The temper, sir, of Shakspeare's Catharine Could no more be compared with hers, Than mine With Lucifer's. Her eyes were like a weasel's; she had a harsh All spread With spots of white and red; Hair of the color of a wisp of straw, And a disposition like a cross-cut saw. Her brother David was a tall, One of your great, big nothings, as we say Well, David undertook one night to play Would be returning from a journey through That stood Below The house some distance,-half a mile, or so. With a long taper A wig, nearly as large over With both ends made to meet Across his breast, (The way in which ghosts are always dressed,) He took His station near A huge oak-tree, Whence he could overlook The road and see Whatever might appear. It happened that about an hour before, friend Abel Had left the table Of an inn, where he had made a halt, With horse and wagon, To taste a flagon David was nearly tired of waiting; At length, he heard the careless tones And then the noise Of wagon-wheels among the stones. Abel was quite elated, and was roaring With all his might, and pouring Out, in great confusion, Scraps of old songs made in "the Revolution." His nead was full of Bunker Hill and Trenton; And jovially he went on, Scaring the whip-po-wills among the trees "See the Yankees Leave the hill, With baggernetts declining, And leather aprons shining. "See the Yankees-Whoa! Why, what is that?" As, slowly, on the fearful figure strode "My conscience! what a suit of clothes! by the powers of gin, Hallo! friend, what's your name Then hearken, while your fate I now declare. But you'll not hurt me, and I'll tell you why: Or bad, that's understood, And be you good or evil, I am sure That I'm secure. If a good spirit, I am safe. If evil, And I don't know but you may be the Devil,- OPPORTUNITY FOR WORK.-Geo. R. Russell. EXAMPLES of greatness and goodness before us, bid us work, and the changing present offers ample opportunity. Around us, everywhere, the new crowds aside the old. Improvement steps by seeming perfection. Discovery upsets theories and clouds over established systems. The usages of one generation become matters of tradition, for the amusement of the next. Innovation rises on the site of homes reverenced for early associations. Science can scarcely keep pace with the names of publications, qualifying or abrogating the past. Machinery becomes old iron, as its upstart suocessor usurps its place. The new ship dashes scornfully by the naval prodigy of last year, and the steamer laughs at them both. The railroad engine, as it rushes by the crumbling banks of the canal, screams out its mockery at the barge rotting piecemeal. The astronomer builds up his hypothesis, and is comforting himself among the nebula, when invention comes to the rescue; the gigantic telescope points upward, and lo! the raw material of which worlds are manufactured becomes the centres of systems blazing in the infinite heavens, and the defeated theorizer retreats into space, with his specu lations, to be again routed, when human ingenuity shall admit us one hair-breadth further into creation. There is no effort of science or art that may not be exceeded; no depth of philosophy that cannot be deeper sounded; no flight of imagination that may not be passed by strong and soaring wing. All nature is full of unknown things; earth, air, water, the fathomless ocean, the limitless sky, lie almost untouched before us. What has hitherto given prosperity and distinction, has not been more open to others than to us; to no one, past or present, more than to the student going forth from the school-room to-morrow. Let not, then, the young man sit with folded hands, calling on Hercules. Thine own arm is the demigod. It was given thee to help thyself. Go forth into the world trustful, but fearless. Exalt thine adopted calling or profession. Look on labor as honorable, and dignify the task before thee, whether it be in the study, office, counting-room, work-shop, or furrowed field. There is an equality in all, and the resolute will and pure heart may ennoble either. THE BACHELOR'S SOLILOQUY. To wed; or not to wed; that is the question :- The slings and sorrows of that blind young archer; And, at the altar, end them. To woo-to wed- For who would bear the quips and jeers of friende, The vacant hearth, the solitary cell, The unshared sorrows and the void within, Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, COLONEL HALPINE'S POEM, READ AT THE FOUND ING OF THE GETTYSBURG MONUMENT. As men beneath some pang of grief, Clear, passion-warm, complete and brief No fitting words our lips can reach; The hills around, the graves, the sky, Surpasses all the art of speech! To-day a nation meets to build A nation's trophy to the dead, Who, living, formed her sword and shield, An emblem of our grief as well |