Though the thought of that old larder, And the shelves o'erflowing there, Made the pang of hunger harder Through the day and night to bear. And the doves have come each morning, And the lowing kine been fed, While your only boy was starving For a single crust of bread! But through all this need and sorrow Has the end been drawing nigh: In these prison walls, to-morrow, It will not be hard to die. Though, upon this cold floor lying, Bitter the last pang may be-- Still your prayers have sweet replying-- The dear Lord has stood with me! And His hand the gates shall open, And the home shall fairer shine, That mine earthly one was given, And my life, dear land, for thine. So I patient wait the dawning That shall rise and still this pain-- Brighter than that last sweet morning By the old house in the lane! * * * * * When the sunbeams, growing bolder. Sought him in the noon, next day-- Starved to death, New Hampshire's soldier In the Libby Prison lay. MUSIC A SCIENCE. Much has been written concerning music. Volume after volume, shallow or erudite, sentimental or critical, prejudiced or impartial, has been issued from the press, but the want (in most instances) of a certain scientific foundation, and of rational canons of criticism, has greatly obscured the general treatment of the subject. Truth has usually been sought everywhere except in the only place where she was likely to be found, namely, in the realm of _natural law_, and consequently, of science. Old tomes of Greek and Latin lore, school traditions, the usage of the best masters, and the verdict of the human ear (a good judge, but not always unperverted), have been appealed to for decisions upon questions readily answered by a knowledge and consideration of first principles resting upon the immutable laws of sound, upon numerical relations of vibrations. These principles are strictly scientific, and capable of demonstration.