THE ROAD TO THE TRENCHES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 502, 26 August 1857, Page 3

THE ROAD TO THE TRENCHES.

" Leave me, comrades, here I drop, " No, sir, take them on, — it All are wanted, none should stop, "Duty must be done. "Those whose guard youtake willfind me " As they pass below." So the soldier spoke, and staggering, Pell amid .the snow. And ever on the dreary heights Down came the snow. " Men, it must be as he asks; * " Duty must be done; " Far too few for half our tasks, " We can spare not one. " Wrap him in this, I need it less ; " Fear not, they shall know; " Mark the place—yon stunted larch— " Forward!" On they go. And silent, on their silent march, Down sank the snow. O'er his features, as he lies, Calms the wrench of pain. Close, faint eyes; pass, cruel skies, Freezing mountain plain. With far soft sounds the stillness teems— Church bells, voices low— Passing into English dreams, There amid the snow. And darkening, thickening, o'er the heights Down fell the snow."

Looking, looking for the mark, Down the others came; Struggling through the snow-rifts stark, ■. Calling out his name: " Here or there ? the drifts are deep, "Have we passed him?" No. Look, a little growing heap, Snow above the snow; Where, heavy on his heavy sleep, Down fell the snow. Strong hands raised him, voices strong Spoke within his ears: Ah, his dreams had softer tongue, Neither now he hears. One more gone for England's sake,

Where so many go,

Lying down without complaint, Dying in the snow; Starving, striving for her sake^ Dying in the snow. Simply done his soldier's part, Through long months of woe, All endured with soldier heart, Battle, famine, snow: Noble, nameless English heart, Snow-cold in the snow. —Poems by Henry LusMngton,