I've wandered twenty years, in distant lands, With sore heart forced to stay: Why fell the blow Fate only understands! God took my home away. To-day one daughter and one son remain Of all my goodly show: Wellnigh in solitude my dark hours wane; God takes my children now. Linger, ye two still left me! though decays Our nest, our hearts remain; In gloom of death your mother silent prays, I in this life of pain. Martyr of Sion! holding Thee in sight, I'll drain this cup of gall, And scale with step resolved that dangerous height, Which rather seems a fall. Truth is sufficient guide; no more man needs Than end so nobly shown. Mourning, but brave, I march; where duty leads, I seek the vast unknown. MARWOOD TUCKER. THE LESSON OF THE PATRIOT DEAD. _("O caresse sublime.")_ [April, 1871.] Upon the grave's cold mouth there ever have caresses clung For those who died ideally good and grand and pure and young; Under the scorn of all who clamor: "There is nothing just!" And bow to dread inquisitor and worship lords of dust; Let sophists give the lie, hearts droop, and courtiers play the worm, Our martyrs of Democracy the Truth sublime affirm! And when all seems inert upon this seething, troublous round, And when the rashest knows not best to flee ar stand his ground, When not a single war-cry from the sombre mass will rush, When o'er the universe is spread by Doubting utter hush, Then he who searches well within the walls that close immure Our teachers, leaders, heroes slain because they lived too pure, May glue his ear upon the ground where few else came to grieve, And ask the austere shadows: "Ho! and must one still believe? Read yet the orders: 'Forward, march!' and 'charge!'" Then from the lime, Which burnt the bones but left the soul (Oh! tyrants' useless crime!) Will rise reply: "Yes!" "yes!" and "yes!" the thousand, thousandth time! H.L.W. THE BOY ON THE BARRICADE. _("Sur une barricade.")_ [June, 1871.] Like Casabianca on the devastated deck, In years yet younger, but the selfsame core. Beside the battered barricado's restless wreck, A lad stood splashed with gouts of guilty gore, But gemmed with purest blood of patriot more. Upon his fragile form the troopers' bloody grip Was deeply dug, while sharply challenged they: "Were you one of this currish crew?"--pride pursed his lip, As firm as bandog's, brought the bull to bay-- While answered he: "I fought with others. Yea!"