The Little Black-eyed Rebel

BY WILL CARLETON. A boy drovo into the cilyT bis wagon loa led down With food to feed thepeopleof the British-governed town ; And the little black-eyed rebel, bo cunning and eo siy. Was watching for hïs coming f rom the corner of her eye. Etts facs looked broad and honest, his hands wero brown and tough, The clothes he wore upon him wore homespun, coarse and rough, But therc was one who watched him, who long time lingered nigh, And cast at him sweet glances from the corner of her eye. Te drove up to the market, he waited in the line - 3is apples and potatoes wcre freeh and fair and line : But long and long he waited, and no one carne to buy, Save the little black-eyed rebel, watching from the corner of her eye. 1 Now who will buy my apples ?M he shouted, long and loud ; And " v"ho wants iny potatoes ?" he repeatcd to the crowd ; 3ut from all the people round him carne no word of a reply, Save the black-eyed rebel, answering from the corner of her eye. Tor she l.new that 'neath the lining of the coat he wore that day Wre loag letters from the huebands and the f athers far away, Who were fighting for the freedom that tney meani to gain or die ; And a tear likc süver glistened in the corner of her eye. Jut the treasures - how to getihem ? crept the queetion through her mind, Since keen enemies were watching for what priües they might ilnd ; And Bhe paused a whih? and pondered, with a pretty iittle eigh ; ihen resolve crept through her features, and a shrewdness fired her eye. So ehe resolutely walked up to the wagon old and red : 1 May I have a dozen apples for a kiss ? " ene sweetty said ; And the brown face blushed to scaïlet, for the boy was somewhat éhj And he saw her laughing at him from the corner of her oye. ' Tou may have thm all for nothing, and more, if you want," quoth he. ' I will have them, myood fellow, but can pay for them," said she ; And she clambered on the wagon, minding not who all were by, With a laugh of reckless romping in the corner of her eye. Clinging round his brawny neck, she clasped her ftngers white and small, And then whispered "Quick! the letters! thrust them underneath my ehawl ! Carry back aain this package, and be sure that you are spry I" And she sweetly smüed upon him from tne corner of her eye. joud the motley crowd were laughing at the strange, ungirlish freak, And the boy was scared and panting, and so dashed he could not epeak ; And, " Miss, I have good apples," a bolder lad did cry; But she answered, " No, I thank you," from the corner of her eye. Vith the news of loved ones absent to the dear friends they would greet, earching them who hungered for them, swift she glided through the etreet. There is nothing worth the doing that it does not pay to try," Thouglit the little black-eyed rebel, with a twinkle iu her eye.