He had been an Afric chieftain, Worn his manhood as a crown; But upon the field of battle Had been fiercely stricken down. 18 THE DYING BONDMAN. He had longed to gain his freedom, Waited, watched and hoped in vain, Till his life was slowly ebbing-- Almost broken was his chain. By his bedside stood the master, Gazing on the dying one, Knowing by the dull grey shadows That life's sands were almost run. "Master," said the dying bondman, "Home and friends I soon shall see; But before I reach my country, Master write that I am free; "For the spirits of my fathers Would shrink back from me in pride, If I told them at our greeting I a slave had lived and died; "Give to me the precious token, That my kindred dead may see-- Master! write it, write it quickly! Master! write that I am free!" At his earnest plea the master Wrote for him the glad release, "A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM." 19 O'er his wan and wasted features Flitted one sweet smile of peace. Eagerly he grasped the writing; "I am free!" at last he said. Backward fell upon the pillow, He was free among the dead. "A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM." Only a little scrap of blue Preserved with loving care, But earth has not a brilliant hue To me more bright and fair. Strong drink, like a raging demon, Laid on my heart his hand, When my darling joined with others The Loyal Legion * band. But mystic angels called away My loved and precious child, And o'er life's dark and stormy way Swept waves of anguish wild. * The Temperance Band, 20 "A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM." This badge of the Loyal Legion We placed upon her breast, As she lay in her little coffin Taking her last sweet rest. To wear that badge as a token She earnestly did crave, So we laid it on her bosom To wear it in the grave. Where sorrow would never reach her Nor harsh words smite her ear; Nor her eyes in death dimmed slumber Would ever shed a tear. "What means this badge?" said her father, Whom we had tried to save; Who said, when we told her story, "Don't put it in the grave." We took the badge from her bosom And laid it on a chair; And men by drink deluded Knelt by that badge in prayer. And vowed in that hour of sorrow From drink they would abstain; THE SPARROW'S FALL. 21 And this little badge became the wedge Which broke their galling chain. And lifted the gloomy shadows That overspread my life, And flooding my home with gladness, Made me a happy wife. And this is why this scrap of blue Is precious in my sight; It changed my sad and gloomy home From darkness into light. THE SPARROW'S FALL. Too frail to soar--a feeble thing-- It fell to earth with fluttering wing; But God, who watches over all, Beheld that little sparrow's fall.