A poetic line from Gray admits of the following twenty-eight variations without changing the accent:
The weary ploughman plods his homeward way,
The ploughman, weary, plods his homeward way,
His homeward way the weary ploughman plods,
His homeward way the ploughman weary plods,
The weary ploughman homeward plods his way,
The ploughman, weary, homeward plods his way,
His way, the weary ploughman homeward plods,
His way, the ploughman, weary, homeward plods,
The ploughman, homeward, plods his weary way,
His way the ploughman, homeward, weary plods,
His homeward weary way the ploughman plods,
Weary, the ploughman homeward plods his way,
Weary, the ploughman plods his homeward way,
Homeward, his way the weary ploughman plods,
Homeward, his way the ploughman, weary, plods,
Homeward, his weary way, the ploughman plods,
The ploughman, homeward, weary plods his way,
The ploughman, weary, homeward plods his way,
His weary way, the ploughman homeward plods,
His weary way, the homeward ploughman plods,
Homeward the plowman plods his weary way,
Homeward the weary ploughman plods his way,
The weary ploughman, his way, homeward plods,
The ploughman, weary, his way homeward plods,
The ploughman plods his weary, homeward way,
Weary, the ploughman, his way homeward plods,
Weary, his homeward way the ploughman plods.
From the Gem of the Prairie.
["Keep that Testament In your vest pocket, over your heart."]
We have been forcibly reminded of an interesting anecdote of the Revolution, while witnessing so many young men in the ranks of the volunteer companies, in connection with the highly praiseworthy resolution of the Nashville Young Men's Bible Society, to present a copy of the New Testament to each officer and private constituting the regiment quartered here.
The fond-hearted mother had assisted in adjusting upon her son the "tow frock and trowsers," had tightly secured the knapsack, canteen and cartridge box in the strings twisted with her own fingers from the same material as his clothes; as he turned, on opening the door, to speak the "manly good-bye," she suppressed the parting tear, lest it might damp the flame of freedom which fired his noble soul, and echoed the "good-bye" with a forced smile.
As she went to the window to take another look, she discovered the Testament had been forgotten; she caught it in her hand, ran to the door--called him loudly, holding the book in her uplifted hand, in order to show him why she stopped, and soon stood by his side. Without uttering a word she put the book in its place, grasped his hand, looked him full in the face, and with quivering lips, heart big with emotion, checks bedewed with tears of maternal affection, she spoke: "My son, I would not have you stay; your country has the first claim upon you; be true to that as you have been dutiful to me, and Heaven will protect you--Keep that Testament in your vest pocket, over your heart!"
After faithfully serving the term of his enlistment, he returned to his home. Before he uttered a word, he took from his "vest pocket" the old Testament, and there lay British bullet, snugly imbedded where the force of the powder had driven it, and this was the only shot he had received while fighting for his country.--Nashville Union.