8
POEMS.
Oh, earth has a million of places
To tarry—but only one home!
And dear to my heart are the faces
That haunt me wherever I roam.
To tarry—but only one home!
And dear to my heart are the faces
That haunt me wherever I roam.
Among them is one of a brother,
So ardent and loyal and brave;
In battle like many another,
His life for his country he gave.
So ardent and loyal and brave;
In battle like many another,
His life for his country he gave.
A leader, collected and ready,
'Mid tumult of cannon and shell—
"On, comrades! and keep the line steady!"
The words that he uttered—and fell.
'Mid tumult of cannon and shell—
"On, comrades! and keep the line steady!"
The words that he uttered—and fell.
How meager appear the diversions
That then could rusticity please!
The quilting-bees, huskings, excursions
In "pirogues" hewn out of the trees.
That then could rusticity please!
The quilting-bees, huskings, excursions
In "pirogues" hewn out of the trees.
A saucy-faced maiden of twenty,
In home-made habiliments dressed,
If parties and suitors were plenty,
No higher ambition possessed.
In home-made habiliments dressed,
If parties and suitors were plenty,
No higher ambition possessed.
But under my eyelids are welling
Sad tears for the dearest of earth,
The promise and light of our dwelling—
For this was the month of her birth.
Sad tears for the dearest of earth,
The promise and light of our dwelling—
For this was the month of her birth.
