XXV. - THE PICKET GUARD. 1. "ALL quiet along the Potomac," they say; Is shot as he walks on his beat to and fro, 2. 'Tis nothing—a private or two now and then 3. All quiet along the Potomac to-night, Where the soldiers lie peacefully dreaming, Their tents, in the rays of the clear winter moon Or the light of the watch-fire, gleaming. 4. A tremulous sigh, as the gentle night wind Through the forest leaves softly is creeping, While stars up above, with their glittering eyes, Keep guard for the army is sleeping. 5. There's only the sound of the lone sentry's3 tread, 6. His musket falls slack—his face dark and grim, Grows gentle with memories' tender, And he mutters a prayer for the children asleep - 7. He passes the fountain, the blasted pine-tree, His footstep is lagging' and weary ; Yet onward he goes, through the broad belt of light, 8. Hark! was it the night wind that rustled the leaves? 9. All quiet along the Potomac to-night, [Lapstone, in the book from which this story is taken, is described as a shoemaker, who had once been a sailor. He lives in a village in New Jersey. The boys of the place are fond of hearing him tell stories of what he saw when he was a sailor. Orkney and Top are two of these boys] 1. LAPSTONE did not forget his plan of getting a Newfoundland* dog to come and live with him, and therefore he was very much pleased when, one morn *New'found-lănd, ing in the month of May, Orkney came to his shop, and told him that a man, a sort of half farmer and half fisherman, lived on the sea-coast about eight miles off, who had some young Newfoundland dogs to sell. 2. The way in which Orkney happened to hear of them was through the carpenter at whose house he lived. This carpenter had a great deal of business' in all the surrounding country, and he often went away from home to do work in the neighboring towns and villages. So, when Orkney told him that Lapstone wished to buy a young Newfoundland dog, he undertook to make inquiries for him. In his inquiries he had heard of these, and told Orkney of them. 3 3. When Lapstone heard Orkney's report he said "I will go immediately and secure one of them, before they are gone. Can you get a wagon for me?" 4. " Yes, sir," said Orkney; a wagon that you can hire." 66 5. "Go and see if you can hire it,' Top's father has ," said Lapstone ; to drive We can "and get Top to go too. I want you to go the wagon, and Top to bring the dog home. all three go. Top can have a seat behind, and take care of the dog, if we get one.' 6. So Orkney went to Top's father to inquire about the wagon. He found that he could have it at any time. So it was all arranged that they were to have the wagon the next Saturday afternoon. Top was to go too. His father said, when the arrangement was made, that he should like to have a Newfoundland dog himself, to keep watch in his stable. 7. But I suppose the man will ask a dollar or more for one of them," he added, "and I cannot very well afford to pay so much." 8. When the time arrived, Orkney went for the wagon, and he and Top harnessed the horse into it. Then they drove to Lapstone's door. Lapstone was already in his shop waiting for them. He had a basket to bring the dog home in. There was a cloth and a string in the basket, which were to be used to fasten the dog in. 9. After all," said Lapstone, just before he got into the wagon, "I will not take any basket. If the little fellow is not willing to come with me of his own accord, he need not come. I will not bring him against his will." So Lapstone put the basket away, and got into the wagon without it. 10. It was a very pleasant afternoon, and the party had a charming drive. The road led along the seashore, and for a considerable part of the way it followed a high bank overlooking the water. The boys could see the ships and steamers passing to and fro along the coast, and here and there they came to little hamlets * of fishermen's houses close to the water, with the fishingboats drawn up before them on the beach. 5 11. At length they reached the place where the man lived who had the dogs. The name of the man was Damrell. As soon as they arrived in the neighborhood where Mr. Damrell lived, they inquired for his house, and were directed to a small dwelling which stood in a very pleasant situation, not far from the seashore, at a place where there was a little creek or inlet from the sea, which formed quite a pretty little harbor. There was a small wharf on the shore of this harbor, not far from the house, and a sail-boat moored to it. The sail-boat was Mr. Damrell's fishing-boat. 12. The house was small, but it was very pretty, and there was quite a nice little garden on one side of it. Mr. Damrell was at work in this garden when the wagon drove up to the gate. 13. "I heard that you had some young Newfoundland dogs to sell," said Lapstone, addressing Mr. Damrell. 6 14. Mr. Damrell straightened himself up from his work, and surveyed" Lapstone with a very sharp look. 15. "I have got a couple of little Newfoundland cubs," said he, "but it is not everybody that I am willing to sell them to." 16. Well?" said Lapstone. "I like that. That's a sign they come of good breed. I do not think you would say that of them unless you thought much of their mother." 17. "I do think much of their mother," said Mr. Damrell. "Here, Dolphin!" 18. He called out the name Dolphin in a loud voice, and immediately a large and very beautiful Newfoundland dog came bounding round the corner of the house in answer to the summons. She came at once to her master, and after looking up into his face a moment, and finding that he had no commands for her, she turned towards the strangers in the wagon, and looked upon them with a countenance of a calm and quiet dignity that was quite impressive. 8 19. That's the mother of the cubs I have," said Mr. Damrell, quietly; and, so saying, he went on raking the bed that he was making. |