Then cheer upon cheer for bold Sherman Went up from each valley and glen, And the bugles re-echoed the music That came from the lips of the men; For we knew that the stars in our banner More bright in their splendor would be, And that blessings from Northland would greet us When Sherman marched down to the sea, Then forward, boys! forward to battle! We marched on our wearisome way, We stormed the wild hills of Resaca God bless those who fell on that day! Frowned down on the flag of the free; And Sherman marched on to the sea. Still onward we pressed, till our banners Swept out from Atlanta's grim walls, And the blood of the patriot dampened The soil where the traitor-flag falls; Who slept by each river and tree, As Sherman marched down to the sea Oh, proud was our army that morning, That stood where the pine darkly towers, When Sherman said, “Boys, you are weary, But to-day fair Savannah is ours ! ” That echoed o'er river and lea, SAMUEL H. M. BYERS. Driving Home the Cows. Out of the clover and blue-eyed grass He turned them into the river-lane; One after another he let them pass, Then fastened the meadow bars again. Under the willows, and over the hill, He patiently followed their sober pace; The merry whistle for once was still, And something shadowed the sunny face Only a boy! and his father had said He never could let his youngest go; Two already were lying dead Under the feet of the trampling foe. But after the evening work was done, And the frogs were loud in the meadow--swamp, Over his shoulder he slung his gun And stealthily followed the foot-path damp Across the clover and through the wheat With resolute heart and purpose grim, Though cold was the dew on his hurrying feet, And the blind bat's flitting startled him. Thrice since then had the lanes been white, And the orchards sweet with apple-bloom; And now, when the cows came back at night, The feeble father drove them home. For news had come to the lonely farm That three were lying where two had lain; And the old man's tremulous, palsied arm Could never lean on a son's again. The summer day grew cool and late, He went for the cows when the work was done; But down the lane, as he opened the gate, He saw them coming one by one, Brindle, Ebony, Speckle, and Bess, Shaking their horns in the evening wind; Cropping the buttercups out of the grass, – But who was it following close behind ? Loosely swung in the idle air The empty sleeve of army blue; Looked out a face that the father knew. For Southern prisons will sometimes yawn, And yield their dead unto life again; In golden glory at last may wane. The great tears sprang to their meeting eyes; For the heart must speak when the lips are dumb; And under the silent evening skies Together they followed the cattle home. KATE PUTNAM Osgoon. Popping Corn. And there they sat, a-popping corn, John Styles and Susan CutterJohn Styles as fat as any ox, And Susan fat as butter. And there they sat and shelled the corn, And raked and stirred the fire, And hitched their chairs up nigher. Then Susan she the popper shook, Then John he shook the popper, Till both their faces grew as red As saucepans made of copper. And then they shelled, and popped, and ate, All kinds of fun a-poking, And she laughed at his joking. And still they popped, and still they ate John's mouth was like a hopperAnd stirred the fire, and sprinkled salt, And shook and shook the popper. The clock struck nine-the clock struck ten, And still the corn kept popping; And still no signs of stopping. And John he ate, and Sue she thought The corn did pop and patter- Why, Susan, what 's the matter?” Said she, “John Styles, it 's one o'clock; You 'll die of indigestion; ANONYMOUS The Twins. In form and feature, face and limb, I grew so like my brother, And each for one another. It reached a fearful pitch; For one of us was born a twin, And not a soul knew which. One day to make the matter worse, Before our names were fixed, We got completely mixed; Or rather nurse's whim, And I got christened him. This fatal likeness ever dogged My footsteps when at school, And I was always getting flogged, When John turned out a fool. I put this question, fruitlessly, To every one I knew, “What would you do, if you were ine, To prove that you were you." Our close resemblance turned the tide Of my domestic life, Became my brother's wife. Absurd mistakes went on, HENRY S. LEIGL A Little Goose. THE chill November day was done, The working world home faring; And set the gas-lights flaring; |