Drake was a youth of many graces of both mind and body, who wrote verses as a bird sings--for the pure joy of it. His career was cut short by death when he was only twenty-five years old. Of him Halleck wrote: "None knew thee but to love thee, Nor named thee but to praise." * * * * * WARREN'S ADDRESS AT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL JOHN PIERPONT Stand! the ground's your own, my braves! Will ye give it up to slaves? Will ye look for greener graves? Hope ye mercy still? What's the mercy despots feel? Hear it in that battle peal! Read it on yon bristling steel! Ask it--ye who will. Fear ye foes who kill for hire? Will ye to your _homes_ retire? Look behind you! they're afire! And, before you, see Who have done it!--From the vale On they come!--and will ye quail?-- Leaden rain and iron hail Let their welcome be! In the God of battles trust! Die we may--and die we must: But, O where can dust to dust Be consigned so well, As where heaven its dews shall shed, On the martyred patriot's bed, And the rocks shall raise their head, Of his deeds to tell? Biographical and Historical: John Pierpont was a Unitarian clergyman of Connecticut, who published several volumes of poetry. General Joseph Warren was one of the generals in command of the patriot army at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was killed in the battle. He was counted one of the bravest and most unselfish patriots of the Revolutionary War. In this poem we have the poet's idea of how General Warren inspired his men. * * * * * COLUMBUS JOAQUIN MILLER Behind him lay the gray Azores, Behind the Gates of Hercules; Before him not the ghosts of shores, Before him only shoreless seas. The good mate said: "Now must we pray, For lo! the very stars are gone. Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?" "Why, say 'sail on! sail on! and on!'" "My men grow mutinous day by day; My men grow ghastly wan and weak." The stout mate thought of home; a spray Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek. "What shall I say, brave Admiral, say, If we sight naught but seas at dawn?" "Why, you shall say at break of day, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!'" They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow. Until at last the blanched mate said: "Why, now not even God would know Should I and all my men fall dead. These very winds forget their way, For God from these dread seas is gone, Now speak, brave Admiral, speak and say"-- He said: "Sail on! sail on! and on!" They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate; "This mad sea shows his teeth to-night. He curls his lip, he lies in wait, With lifted teeth, as if to bite! Brave Admiral, say but one good word: What shall we do when hope is gone?" The words leapt like a leaping sword; "Sail on! sail on! and on!"