But the eye was bright and glowing,
While my troubled thought was told;
Yet her voice was clear and steady,
Without sigh, or tear, or stops,
When she answered, speaking quickly,
"'Tis women's work, this picking hops.
"Men should be where duty calls them—
Women stay at home and pray
For the gallant absent soldier,
Proud to know he would not stay."
"Bravely spoken, darling Minnie!"
Then I kissed her golden locks,
Breathed anew a soldier's promise,
As we sat there picking hops.
"Now I go away to-morrow,
And I'll dare to do or die,
Win a leader's straps and sword, love,
Or 'mid fallen heroes lie.
Then, when all of earth is fading,
And the fluttering life-pulse stops,
Still, 'mid thoughts of home and heaven,
I'll remember picking hops."
ON GUARD.
OPEN your eyes, my darling;
Gather the snowy lid
Off from the sleeping glory
Under the lashes hid.
3
