Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875. Excerpt: ... P icture him nobler than the noblest vision Of thy day-dreams, poor mother! See, the bloodhounds Have track'd him to your cot. A faded face Lies with dark uprais'd eyes of love before The fond heroic brother. Heavenly calm Warders the room, and of the sweet emotions Of the rejoicing world without, lets in Only the silent sunshine. The door bursts! A shriek! a shout! they seize him! The pale form Springs at the first and falls. Now see your hero Like an inspired colossus striding o'er him. With either hand he hurls a savage hence, Foots each bare neck, with twice another twain Acquaints the sounding walls. Falls by some blow From unseen hand. Sinks by the yelling weight Of crowds. A moment more, and like dead game Slung by some trooper's side, mother, he greets thee, And leaves thee baptized in his sprinkled gore, To faiths kings dream not of. Oh brother, brother, Oh memory! that canst bring me back such woes And break not! Thus they tore him from me. Ah, Poor tender child, why doth thy baby heart Look up through saddening eyes? What! little one, And canst thou read the future? Dost thou know That he was like thee? Ay, poor mother, clasp him, Clasp him while yet thou mayst! Secure as thou That morn I clasp'd my brother! Dost thou ask What tidings fell upon the failing ear Of him who in the cottage by the plain Lay weeping? Be it as thou wilt, poor mother, It concerns thee;--what if of all thy tears--Thy fated tears--a few are shed too soon? For me I am a rock which, long years hence, The storms stripp'd rudely, and with my few flowers Took all that, nursed them, and to after tempests Left but the cold bare stone. In earth or heaven I have no more to fear. But for thee, mother, I will read out this story, and perchance Teach thee to strike the fire that yet...