persist'ed, continued.
crip'ples, those who have lost the use of a limb.
merged, united; joined.
stal'wart, strong; powerful.
in'nocent, harmless.
pass'port, what enables one to go in safety.
gal'lant, brave; noble.
riv'en, taken away; deprived.

UNITED AT LAST.

"O mother! What do they mean by blue?

And what do they mean by gray?"

Was heard from the lips of a little child

As she bounded in from play.

The mother's eyes filled up with tears;

She turned to her darling fair,

And smoothed away from the sunny brow

Its treasure of golden hair.