Bingen On The Rhine

BY MaS. XOBTON. I. A soldier of the Legión lay dying in Algier, There was lnck of woman's nursing, tbere was dearth of woman's tears ; But a eomnde stood besidehim, whileW life-blood ebbed awy, Und bent. with pHyingglances, to hear what he m.ght The dying soklier faltered. as he took that comrade - Aml he said : '" I never mON sball see my ovn, my native liml ; Talie a maamg, and a loken, tosome distant frienls of mine, For I was bom at Bingci- at Bingen on thoKliine. II. ' i Teil my brothers a.id eompanions, when theymeet and crowd areund, To hm my mournful story, in the pleasant vineyard That we tabTthe battle bravely ,-an,l when the day FulImanyrcSorsela'ygl'istly pale, beneath tho settmï And amúlst the dead and dying, were some gr" w in wars, - The death-wound on tlieir gillant .breasts, the last of many scars ; But somo were young,-and suddcnly bcl.old lift' mom And one had ' co'me irom Bingen.-fair Bingen on tho Rhine 1 III. "Teil my molher that her other sons shall comfort her And I wal ' aye"á truant bird, tlwt thoug ut hll home a cage : For my fathpr was a soldier, and, even as a chil.l , My heart leaped fort h to hear him teil of strugglcs fierce And when he died , and left us to divide his scanty hoard , I let tkem take whate'er they would- but kept my father's swovd; And with boyteh love I hang it where the brightlight used to shine, On the cotUge-wall at Bingon,-calin B.ngen on the Rhine I IV. Teil my sister not to weep for me, and sob with drooping head, When the troops are marcliing home again, with glad and gallant tiead ; But to look upon them proudly, with a calm and üteadfast eye, Fn her br .tl.er was a soldier, too, and not afraid to die. And, if icomr.de Ba Ikt love, 1 ask hor n my name To listen to hiin kindly, without regret or shame ; And to hang the old sword in lts place, (my Father'a BWO] (1 ainl mine.) For the honor of old lr Bingen on lic Rhitie! V. ' There's anotner- not a sister ;- in the happy days gone by, You'd have known her by the merriment that sparkled in her eye ; Too innocent forcoquetry,- too fondfor idle scorning ;- Oh 1 fricad, i fea the ligbtest heart makes sometimes heaviet mourning ! Teil her the last night of my lire- (for ere this moon bc risen 5Iy body will bo out o: pain- my soulout ot prison,) I dreamed I stood w.th r, and saw theyellow mmlight shine, On the vineclad huls of Bingen,- fair Bingen on the Rhine ! VI"I saw the blue Khine sweep along- I hear.l.or seemcd to hear, The Germán 33n we use d to sing, in chorus sweet and clear ; Anfl down ibe pleasantriver, and up the slan'ing hill, The echoing chorus soundeil, tbrough the eveningcalm and still ; And her glad blue eyes were on me, as we passed witli fiiendly t.ilk, Down manj a path belovcd of yore, and well-remembered wik; And her little hand lay li?ht!y , confidingly in mine, But we'U meet no more at Buigen,- loved Bingen on the Khine !" VII. His voicegrew faintand hoarssr,- hisgrasp was childish weab, - His yes put on a dyinglook,- he sighed and ceascd to speak : His comrade bent to lift him , but tho spark of life bad fled,- The soldier of the Legión, in a foreignland- was dead ! And the soft moon rose up slowly , and calmly she looked down, On tbercd sand of the battle-fleld, with bloody corpses strown ; Yea, calmly on that dreadful scène her pale light seemcd to shine, As it shown on disunt Bingen,- fair Bingen on the Ehine 1