THE REVEILLE. THE MARCH OF THE 1ST REGIMENT FOR WASHINGTON, HARK! I hear the tramp of thousands, Freemen, come, Ere your heritage be wasted!" "Let me of my heart take counsel- Who shall stay and reap the harvest Death shall reap the braver harvest!" "But when won the coming battle, What if conquest, subjugation, Answered, "Come! You must do the sum to prove it!" Said the Union answering drum. "What if'mid the cannons' thunder, Should my heart grow cold and numb?" Answered, "Come! Better there in death united, Thus they answered-hoping, fearing- Lo! was dumb, For the great heart of the nation, T. B. HART. THE ARSENAL. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORK AT HARPER'S FERRY, APRIL 19TH, '61. This is the Arsenal. From floor to ceiling, Ah! what a sound will rise, how wild and dreary, When the death-angel touches these swift keys! What loud lament and dismal Miserere Will mingle with their awful symphonies! I hear e'en now the infinite fierce chorus, The tumult of each sacked and burning village; The shout that every prayer for mercy drowns; The soldiers' revel in the midst of pillage; The wail of famine in beleaguered towns; The bursting shell, the gateway wrenched asunder, The diapason of the cannonade. Were half the power that fills the earth with terror, The warrior's name would be a name abhorred! Down the dark future, through long generations, The echoing sounds grow fainter, and then cease; And like a bell, with solemn, sweet vibrations, I hear once more the voice of Christ say "Peace!" Peace! and no longer from its brazen portals The holy melodies of love arise. H. W. LONGFELLOW. 1 VAINLY I WAIT FOR THEE. CAPTURE OF THE STAR OF THE WEST, I AM waiting, sadly waiting, Waiting for thy welcome footsteps, Vainly through the dusk I'm peering. Never more shall I behold thee, Low in death thou'rt lain, On the battle-field so gory, For thy country slain. From mine eyes the tears are falling- HELENE OSGOO THE MARTYRED THREE. THE MARCH TO THE CAPITOL. OUR mother, Massachusetts, And, bosomed on her fragrant hills, And so they wax to manliness, In scrolls of fire electric The battle-word went forth Like burning brand from hand to hand, Through all the loyal North: "The Capitol's in danger!— So every soul rehears'd, -And pass'd the brand from hand to handOld Massachusetts first! |