Our Soldier Lad

[Copyrijrhted.] Twas sueli a day ia sixty-one, tho sun was shining dear: I mark it wi'll, tho corn-stalks showed tho turning at the ycar: And (ieorge and I wero fcncing-in a forty aero field, Whon down across the prairie a gallant squadron wheeled,; And line on line of horsemcn, like the wavea of ocean.rolled Down to tho ri ver-landing, o'erthat living cloth of gold. Pluin Grove sent hack tlielr houting, as tho roar of thundermg surf, And thoir horsen' hoofs beat music, muffied ly the spongy turf. "Our boys have broken camp," I said,- my heart was half-way sad; - "Iowa troop wlll ünüthetiulf,- Qod blcss cach. oldierlad! ' Tlie snn sliines now as it shono tlien; the prairie is atiro With polden. rod and jmrple blooin; tho grass is truwinjr drier: Brown prairie-hens sknllc by the road; wild ducks are flying soutli, And stnp to feml in yonder siough, now low from summor drouth: And hero and there, on stubble-land, tho strawstarks hugo arisc, And lift their mifrlity towcrs aloft, towarda autumn's glorious skies. Tes, stores of wheat were winnowcd out from mountain-piles like these, And rorn-bins, each with bursting door, now proimse bread and easo. But every year, at just tuis time, my thoughts arelsoniehow aad :- On such a Uaymy boy became in hoart a soldier. lad. HewatchPd thcridors g.illop till thelr plumea were out oX night; He listened for the music till it died upon tho right: All day he seemed adreaming, and he nailod th boards askcw; Iledug tho post-holcs out of lino- his eye was :lways true. I didu't tbink tho troopcrs' coats had dazed my poor boy's Riffht : I didtft guess those bugle-notcs had snatched hina from us qtiite: Ho was but flftecn years in all, though large, with ruddy cheelc- I never thought that he could leave hls home on Locust Creek. So.when the gold and purple come, and sky and earth aro rlad Tho very brightness calis to mind our browncheeked soldier-lad. All night wild droains ran through my brain; 1 w .uii'd itreama so rud ! Slirill bUKle-blaau rang on the air; I lookcd upon tüe (U':nl. 0 Gd! Imw dreadful was tho night! Moro dreadful was the day, Formorning'searliestlightsoon showedmyboy was far away. 1 callcd hiin at the garret-dojr; no answcr met ]ny bal] : I hurried to tho barn-yard next, and found an empty Htall. I marked the trnoks through hoof-brushed dew, anl on Ilu-y t-vcr lod. Down to the rivcr-landing straight - that way my boy had ried! And ever sinco I bliini that road, so íull of memorioi pad : Vos, well I loved my country, but- I loved my Boldier-lad. 1 . S S; Twas Just at dtisk- no news weheard- the cow wero lowing near, "When Billy's whlnny by the slough camc qulck to waitlnjr can And when I took thp hanglng reins, nd smoothed the glad i'ot'rt BOMf I daré not aay no tear-drop sprang, no o hoting Bih arose. A. month wentliy; a letter carne, writ by tho Chaplain kilid:- " Brain f ever- dead1':- we rould not rea!; th falling tears would blind. Ilis mother mourned, as mothers i 1 1 ; 'twaa hard to see her fret: ThougU Beklom slie could epeak hia name, her eyea were often wet. III grave 13 on Misaourl's bank, witli softest ciasses ciad; Andthere rest safo the precioui dust of our poor eoldier-lad. To-day I bet same posts ancwf and nailed the iwinging boards; And evcry hammer-blow brought back tho ring of clanging swords. Where now the gallant horsemen, who, wlth all their brave array, Ia riding to the iaiullng wiled our darlltig boy awy? Oyes, it'gmany a year sinco war plowed deep our land ; iinl sowed Thofruitfulseed xif human livos; long, slnco tho mldnightïglowed Withcrackllng flaines of burnlng towns; and peace and plenty bless Each foot of alfour dcar-bought soll; but, oh, tho lonelinessl Yon thlnk me weak and elflsli; wrll, to-lay my heart is sad: At times I cannot quite forget our ono brav doldler lad. ¦ For bravo ho was, and manly too; aud once, I know, he f;tid He wmiJd Ai.i band might strike a blow to arenge the nol Ie d'ail. No blow he struik : and, yet, pcrliaps his lifewos not II lont ; 'Twasyu'lib'd i n his countiy's nccd -tra nay not i'iinnt tlu' cost Soitlioiicli noson takcfrom uiy hand tho WcUworn hoe :md plovr: Ko daucliter clir iliii umlhor's heort! ad Hinntit.il thf wrtnkld browi Xo prundi-liild r-liinl ujun our ktireft to wl tis witli it initle; We know a Fat lier pitles ns, and givcs Hls trenirth tlw while. Bat, wlx-ii leep by I.ni-ust Croek, bc sure our l'(Kr ln-:u l h;id Been burled. yi-:iri and jetn beforc, beslde our boldicr-laü 1