Are ye all there, my vassals true?-
Mine eyes are waxing dim ;—
Fill round, my tried and fearless ones,
Each goblet to the brim.

"Ye're there, but yet I see ye not.
Draw forth each trusty sword,-
And let me hear your faithful steel
Clash once around my board:
I hear it faintly-Louder yet!-
What clogs my heavy breath?
Up all,-and shout for Rudiger,
'Defiance unto Death!""

Bowl rang to bowl,-steel clanged to steel
-And rose a deafening cry

That made the torches flare around,
And shook the flags on high :-
'Ho! cravens, do ye fear him?-
Slaves, traitors! have ye flown?

Ho! cowards, have ye

left me

To meet him here alone?

'But I defy him :-let him come !"

Down rang the massy cup,

While from its sheath the ready blade

Came flashing half-way up;

And, with the black and heavy plumes

Scarce trembling on his head,

There, in his dark, carved, oaken chair,
Old Rudiger sat, dead.

CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE AT BALAKLAVA.

TENNYSON.

HALF a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
"Charge for the guns!" he said:
Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew

Some one had blundered:

Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do and die,
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,

Cannon in front of them

Volleyed and thundered;

Stormed at with shot and shell,

Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell

Rode the six hundred :

Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them

Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came through the jaws of Death
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?
O, the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.

Honor the charge they made!
Honor the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred!

Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow!
How the flakes gather and laugh as they go!
Whirling about in its maddening fun,

It plays in its glee with every one.

Chasing,

Laughing,
Hurrying by

It lights up the face and it sparkles the eye;
And even the dogs, with a bark and a bound,
Snap at the crystals that eddy around.
The town is alive, and its heart in a glow
To welcome the coming of beautiful snow.

How the wild crowd goes swaying along,
Hailing each other with humor and song!
How the gay sledges like meteors flash by—
Bright for a moment, then lost to the eye,
Ringing,
Swinging,

Dashing they go

Over the crest of the beautiful snow :

Dreading to ale,

my soul to whoever would buy, in shame for a morsel of bread, the living and fearing the dead. al God! have I fallen so low?

et I was once like this beautiful snow!

was fair as the beautiful snow,

n eye like its crystals, a heart like its glow; was loved for my innocent grace

ed and sought for the charm of my face. Father,

Mother,

Sisters all,

nd myself, I have lost by my fall. riest wretch that goes shivering by

ke a wide sweep, lest I wander too nigh; that is on or about me, I know

is nothing that's pure but the beautiful snow.

range it should be that this beautiful snow fall on a sinner with nowhere to go!

range it would be, when the night comes again, snow and the ice struck my desperate brain! Fainting,

Freezing,
Dying alone!