THE BALLAD.

"Come hither, little brothers,

And listen now to me,

And I will read a story

To both, while at my knee."

Then Johnnie's flag hung idly,

And Charlie hushed his drum;

To hear sweet Mary's story

The mimic soldiers come.

"'Tis of a boy no larger,

My little Charles, than you;

But he had been in battle,

And all its terrors knew.

"His father was a captain;

He had no child beside;

And while he was an infant

His mother dear had died.

"And so from camp to battle,

From fight to camp again,

Had lived, this little hero,

On many a bloody plain.

"One day, when shouts were loudest

Upon the reddened field,—

When came the victor's war-cry,

'See! see! they fly! they yield!'—

"Forth then, to seek his father,

He went with eager joy;

But with a chance ball wounded,

Low lay the fearless boy!

"The son of a brave chieftain,

He made no sigh or groan;

His father's hand yet tighter

He clasped within his own!

"And so, when strife was ended,

No more to be begun,

In conquest's very moment

Thus fell the chieftain's son."

Then John took out his feather,

And put his flag away;

And Charlie's drum was silent

Until another day.

THE CHILD'S QUESTION.

"What are the flowers for, mamma, That spring up fresh and bright, And grow on every hill and plain, Where'er I turn my sight? "How do the flowers grow, mamma? I've pulled the leaves away, And tried to see them blossom out, On many a summer's day." "The flowers were made, my little child, That when our footsteps trod Upon the green and pleasant fields, We then might think of God. "We may not see how they do grow, And bloom in beauty fair; We cannot tell how they can spread Their small leaves to the air: "But yet we know that God's kind hand Creates these little flowers, And makes the warm sun shine on them, And waters them with showers. "And so we love to think that He, Who paints their sweet leaves thus, Who sends the sunshine and the rain, Has thought and care for us."

SUNDAY NIGHT.

The holy Sabbath day has fled; And has it been well spent? Have I remembered what was said, And why the day was sent? May I be better all the week, For what to-day has taught; May I God's love and favor seek, And do the things I ought!