2. In savage Nature's far abode

Its tender seed our fathers sowed;
The storm-winds rocked its swelling bud,
Its opening leaves were streaked with blood,
Till lo! earth's tyrants shook to see
The full-blown Flower of Liberty!
Then hail the banner of the free,
The starry Flower of Liberty!

3. Behold its streaming rays unite
One mingling flood of braided light,—
The red that fires the Southern rose,
With spotless white from Northern snows,
And, spangled o'er its ăzure, see
The sister Stars of Liberty!

Then hail the banner of the free,
The starry Flower of Liberty!

4. The blades of heroes fence it round,
Where'er it springs is holy ground;
From tower and dome its glories spread;
It waves where lonely sentries tread;
It makes the land, as ocean, free,
And plants an empire in the sea!

Then hail the banner of the free,
The starry Flower of Liberty!

5. Thy sacred leaves, fair Freedom's flower,
Shall ever float in dome and tower,
To all their heavenly colors true,
In blackening frost or crimson dew,-
And God love us as we love thee,
Thrice holy Flower of Liberty!
Then hail the banner of the free,
The starry FLOWER OF LIBERTY!

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES,

M SECTION XXXVII.

I.

171. THE CAVALRY CHARGE.

ITH bray of the trumpet and roll of the drum,
And keen ring of bugle, the cavalry come.
Sharp clank the steel scabbards, the bridle-chains ring,
And foam from red nostrils the wild chargers fling.
2 Tramp! tramp! o'er the greensward that quivers below,
Scarce held by the curb-bit the fierce horses go!
And the grim-visaged colonel, with ear-rending shout,
Peals forth to the squadrons the order—"Trot out!"

3. One hand on the saber, and one on the rein,
The troopers move forward in line on the plain.

As rings the word "Gallop!" the steel scabbards clank,
And each rowel is pressed to a horse's hot flank :
And swift is their rush as the wild torrent's flow,

Then it pours from the crag on the valley below.
4. "Charge!" thunders the leader: like shaft from the bow
Each mad horse is hurled on the wavering foe.

A thousand bright sabers are gleaming in air;
A thousand dark horses are dashed on the square.
5. Resistlèss and recklèss of aught may betide,

Like dēmons, not mortals, the wild troopers ride.
Cut right! and cut left!-for the parry who needs?
The bayonets shiver like wind-shattered reeds.

6. Vain-vain the red volley that bursts from the square,—
The random-shot bullets are wasted in air.

Triumphant, remorseless, unerring as death,-
No saber that's stainlèss returns to its sheath.

7. The wounds that are dealt by that murderous steel
Will never yield case for the surgeon to heal.
Hurrah! they are broken-hurrah! boys, they fly-
None linger save those who but linger to die.

8. Rein up your hot horses and call in your men,—
The trumpet sounds "Rally to color" again.

Some saddles are empty, some comrades are slain,
And some noble horses lie stark on the plain,
But war's a chance game, boys, and weeping is vain.
F. A. DURIVAGE,

II.

172. THE CHARGE AT WATERLOO.

N came the whirlwind-like the last

ΟΝ

But fiercèst sweep of tempèst blast;
On came the whirlwind-steel-gleams broke
Like lightning through the rolling smoke ;
The war was waked anew.

Three hundred cannon-mouths roared loud,
And from their throats, with flash and cloud,
Their showers of iron threw.
Beneath their fire, in full career,
Rushed on the ponderous cuirassier,'
The lancer couched his ruthless spear,
And, hurrying as to havoc near,

The cohorts'' eagles flew.

2. In one dark torrent, broad and strong,
The advancing onset rolled along,
Forth harbingered by fierce acclaim,
That from the shroud of smoke and flame,
Pealed wildly the imperial name.
But on the British heart were lost
The terrors of the charging host;
For not an eye the storm that viewed
Changed its proud glance of fortitude;
Nor was one forward footstep stayed,
As dropped the dying and the dead.”
3. Fast as their ranks the thunder tear,
Fast they renewed each serried' square!
And on the wounded and the slain
Closed their diminished files again ;

1 Cuirassier, (kwè`ras sèr ́), a soldier armed with a cuirass, or breastplate.

body of about five or six hundred soldiers; any band or body of warriors. 'Sĕrried, crowded: pressed to

Cohort, in ancient Rome, a gether.

4.

Till from their lines scarce spears' lengths three,
Emerging from the smoke they see

Helmet and plume, and panoply '-

Then waked their fire at once!
Each musketeer's revolving knell
As fast, as regularly fell,

As when they practice to display
Their discipline on festal day.

Then down went helm and lance,
Down went the eagle-banners sent,
Down reeling steeds and riders went,
Corselets were pierced and pennons' rent;
And, to augment the fray,

Wheeled full against their staggering flanks,
The English horsemen's foaming ranks
Forced their resistlèss way..

5. Then to the musket-knell succeeds
The clash of swords, the neigh of steeds;
As plies the smith his clanging trade,
Against the cuirass rang the blade;
And while amid their close array
The well-served cannon rent their way,
And while amid their scattered band
Raged the fierce rider's bloody brand,
Recoiled in common rout and fear
Lancer and guard and cuirassier,
Horsemen and foot-a mingled höst-

Their leaders fallen, their standards lost.

SECTION XXXVIII.

I.

174. A SISTER PLEADING FOR A BROTHER.

SABELLA. I am a woful suitor to your honor;
Please but your honor hear me.

Isab. There is a vice that most I do abhor,
And most desire should meet the blow of justice,
For which I would not plead, but that I must.
Ang. Well; the matter?