350
��NONE TO SPARE.
" It seems- -to float- -clear to Heaven.
Hark !- -can T- -hear — a bell ? Yes- -it's- -still- -a-ringin' — .
You- -cannot- -hear it?- -Well, Good-bye- -take- -care- -uv--Mary — "
And when he heard the roll, I trust that Christ had mercy On the rough old soldier's soul.
��And there, on the wall of his 'bed-room, '
Hung up by its strap to a peg, Just where he last had left it,
Was his well-worn wooden leg. We buried it carefully with him.
Strapped on, as it was before, With the flag, as he requested,
For none deserved it more.
And while I live and remember,
I never can forget His chivalric honor and ' jestis,'
Nor how his cheeks were wet, At thought of the flag, and Mary,
Nor the teason he fought so well, Nor the treason to woman's trust and love
By which at last he fell.
��NONE TO SPARE.
��I had thought of her very often— my friend, with her large family and multi- plied duties ; and I had wondered if some of the little ones had not been denomina- ted '" unwelcomed strangers," when they nestled so fast round her mother-knee. In fact, I was quite sure they must be, for her house was in such a topsy-turvy condition — dolls, cradles, tops, kites, and miniature fire-arms, literally covering the pretty figures of the carpet. And then she was so pale and emaciated, and her brow was furrowed by so many lines of care 1 I was quite sure she was not as happy as I, with my sweet baby — al- though I dropped a tear for the little dar- ling who had been gathered by the an- gels — for, my rooms were perfectly kept, the carpets bright as new, and baby al-
��ways so sweet and nice in her fresh white linen. I thought — I will not tell you my thoughts, for they were very wicked ones, and I drove them away as soon as ever I could.
I could never verify my suspicions, for whenever I visited my friend I found her cheerful and happy, in spite of the con- fusion which every where prevailed. She stepped over dolls' heads with the grace of a queen, not the slightest scowl mount- ing her pretty face — went round wheel- barrows and dump-carts without a naughty word out of her lips ; while I sat boiling over with indignation, and a silent desire to take them by course and give them a good pious thrashing !
I afterwards greatly rejoiced that I kept the peace, and endured my visit to
�� �
