How it wanders over the carpet-- It lights up the distant room-- It falls on his portrait--_his_ portrait!-- His face shines out in the gloom As warmly and loving as ever;-- But, oh, there hangs under its frame The sword he has wielded so bravely-- The blade that has lettered his name On the tablets of Glory--erected O'er the bodies of thousands of slain; Who have died to preserve the Republic! _Our_ loss--but the nation's great gain. Wring the small, white hands together-- Clasp them close over the breast:-- Prisoned heart, throbbing so wildly, Never again to know rest. Can you not leap and be joyful, Knowing the nation is free! Gentle-eyed Peace is but waiting Sure of a welcome, to be. Ask not for paeans of triumph From 'only a woman's' heart: Alas! in the triumph of nations She hath but an humble part! Hers to be patient, and suffer-- While her soul goes out to the fray With the one who is dearer than heaven, To see him shot down by the way. Anguished, for drops of cold water That e'en to the vilest we give! Mangled and crushed and insulted! God! can I write it, and live! Fold the hands o'er the soft bosom Baby hands never caressed-- Hush into patience the sweet lips Never to man's to be pressed. There on the altar of nations She has given the soul out of her life: Holocaust greater was never: God help the poor, little wife! THE ISLE OF SPRINGS. CHAPTER V. HISTORICAL SKETCH. Jamaica was discovered by Columbus himself, on the 3d of May, 1494, while prosecuting his second voyage. On his fourth and last voyage he was shipwrecked on its northern coast, and, through the cruel jealousy of the governor of Hispaniola, was detained there nearly a year before relief was sent. In the dearth of historical associations, I have sometimes pleased myself with gazing at the high summit of Cape Clear Hill, which is far and wide conspicuous along the northern shore, and reflecting that the eye of the great discoverer may have often rested upon it during his weary detention, endeavoring thus to raise present insignificance somewhat by linking it with the one illustrious name in the annals of the island.