The only poem set to the famous air of _Dixie_ which has any literary merit is one that was written by General Albert Pike. Some one has said that it is worthy of notice that the finest Puritan lyric we have was written by an Englishwoman, Mrs. Felicia Hemans, and the most popular Southern war song was written by a Yankee, a native of Massachusetts. Albert Pike was born in Boston, December 29, 1809, but most of his boyhood was spent in Newburyport. He became a teacher, but in 1831 visited what was then the wild region of the Southwest with a party of trappers. He afterward edited a paper at Little Rock, and studied law. He served in the Mexican War with distinction, and on the breaking out of the Rebellion enlisted, on the Confederate side, a force of Cherokee Indians, whom he led at the battle of Pea Ridge. After the war he edited the Memphis _Appeal_ till 1868, when he settled in Washington as a lawyer. He has written a number of fine poems, and retired from the profession of law in 1880, to devote himself to literature and Freemasonry. Mr. Pike's version of Dixie is as follows,-- [Illustration: _ALBERT PIKE_] "Southrons, hear your Country call you! Up, lest worse than death befall you! To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie! Lo! all the beacon fires are lighted-- Let all hearts be now united! To arms! To arms! To arms, in Dixie! Advance the flag of Dixie! Hurrah! Hurrah! For Dixie's land we take our stand, And live or die for Dixie! To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie! To arms! To arms! And conquer peace for Dixie! "Hear the Northern thunders mutter! Northern flags in South winds flutter! To arms! Send them back your fierce defiance! Stamp upon the accursed alliance! To arms! Advance the flag of Dixie! "Fear no danger! Shun no labor! Lift up rifle, pike, and sabre! To arms! Shoulder pressing close to shoulder, Let the odds make each heart bolder! To arms! Advance the flag of Dixie! "How the South's great heart rejoices, At your cannons' ringing voices! To arms! For faith betrayed, and pledges broken, Wrongs inflicted, insults spoken, To arms! Advance the flag of Dixie! "Strong as lions, swift as eagles, Back to their kennels hunt these beagles! To arms! Cut the unequal bonds asunder! Let them hence each other plunder! To arms! Advance the flag of Dixie! "Swear upon your country's altar Never to submit or falter! To arms! Till the spoilers are defeated, Till the Lord's work is completed. To arms! Advance the flag of Dixie!