15. Yet some maintain that to this day That you may see sweet Lucy Gray 16. O'er rough and smooth she trips along, And sings a solitary song That whistles in the wind. William Wordsworth. KING JOHN AND THE REBEL. I. SOME centuries ago two kings were contending for the crown of Castile. We forget their names for the present; but to facilitate the telling of my story, we shall call one Alfonso and the other John. Alfonso proclaimed, of course, that John was a usurper and a rebel, and John returned the compliment. Well, John at last defeated his rival, horse and foot, and carried everything triumphantly before him, with the exception of a single town, which Alfonso had intrusted to a stout old knight called Aguilar, and which, after a long siege, still remained impregnable. "You have done enough for honor," said King John one day to the knight; "surrender, and you shall have the most liberal terms." "If you had read the history of your country," answered Aguilar, "you would have known that none of my race ever capitu lated." "I will starve you, proud and obstinate fool." "Starve the eagle if you can." "I will put you and the whole garrison to the sword." "Try," was the laconic reply, and the siege went on. 2. One morning, as the rising sun was beginning to gild with its rays the highest towers of the beleaguered city, a parley sounded from the camp of the enemy. The old knight appeared on the wall and looked down on the king below. "Surrender," said John again. "My rival, Alfonso, is dead, and the whole of Castile recognizes my sway as that of its legitimate sovereign." Sire, I believe you, but I must see my dead master." "Go, then, to Seville, where his body lies. You have my royal word that I shall attempt nothing against you on your way; nor against the city in your absence." 66 3. The knight came out with banner flying, and a small escort of grim-visaged warriors. Behind him the gates closed; before him the dense battalions of the enemy opened their ranks; and as he passed along, slowly riding his noble war-horse, shouts of admiration burst wide and far from the whole host who had so often witnessed his deeds of valor, and the echoes of the loud and enthusiastic greeting accompanied him until the red plume which waved in his helmet was out of sight. He arrived at Seville, and went straight to the Cathedral, where he found the tomb of his former sovereign. He had it opened, and gazing awhile with moist eyes at the pale face which met his look, he care. thus addressed the dead monarch: "Sire, I had sworn never to deliver to anybody but yourself the keys of the town, which you had intrusted to my Here they are. I have kept my oath." And he deposited them on the breast of King Alfonso. Then, bestriding his good steed, he galloped back to his post. 4. As soon as he approached, again the ranks of the enemy opened, and King John confronted him. "Well," said the king, "are you satisfied, and do you now give up the contest?" "Yes, sire." "Where are the keys of the town?" "On King Alfonso's breast. Go and get them. We meet no more.' 'By Heaven! we shall never part," exclaimed the king; "get the keys back yourself and remain in command of the town in my name." The followers of the king murmured, and complained of his rewarding a rebel. "He is no longer one," said King John; "such rebels, when won, become the best subjects." Charles E. A. Gayarré. OCTOBER. THE passionate summer's dead! the sky's aglow The winds at eve are musical and low Whose pomp in grand procession upward grows, Ah, me! how regally the heavens look down, Paul H. Hayne. WASHINGTON'S ADDRESS TO HIS TROOPS. DELIVERED BEFORE THE BATTLE OF LONG ISLAND, 1776. I. THE time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of a brave resistance, or the most abject submission. We have therefore to resolve to conquer or to die. 2. Our own, our country's honor, calls upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion; and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us then rely on the goodness of our cause, and the aid of the Supreme Being, in whose hands victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble actions. The eyes of all our countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from tyranny meditated against them. Let us animate and encourage each other, and show the whole world that a freeman contending for liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth. 3. Liberty, property, life, and honor are all at stake; upon your courage and conduct rest the hopes of our bleeding and insulted country; our wives, children, and parents expect safety from us only, and they have every reason to believe that Heaven will crown with success so just a cause. 4. The enemy will endeavor to intimidate by show and appearance; but remember, they have been repulsed on various occasions by a few brave Americans. Their cause is bad-their men are conscious of it; and, if opposed with firmness and coolness on their first onset, with our advantage of works and knowledge of the ground the victory is most assuredly ours. Every good soldier will be silent and attentive, wait for orders, and reserve his fire until he is sure of doing execution. |