But the soldier’s pulse had almost ceased,

And there crept upon his brow the change—

Ah, how sudden! alas, how strange!

Yet again his eyelids opened wide,

And his glances moved to either side,

This time with a clear intelligence

Which took all objects in its sense,

A power to comprehend the whole

Of the scene that girded his passing soul.

The father, who saw it, slowly drew