AFTER THE BATTLE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 320, 28 November 1888, Page 8

AFTER THE BATTLE .

JOuilit h:>tnf«r.i>n. >itt< i •'■ nk.i'-s blimjjJs the fiuld.of now — ~ ' "Yei'^'hc cl'o.u'l i.,fti i»nti tlio ihuia, ~Ni.4rht hath fallen, l>nt r m> tl.irkness ■Can eclipse one form of wev — De-.itii, among the knots of wounded, , "Still king tireless to and fro. Net a star poops forth to choor them ; Wen the lwoon, that orb of "liico, Sifken'd with the breath of slaughter. Hides her sweet, benignant face. Oil, what bitter memories rack them — Husbands, loveis, dying theie! Wouls of anicei, half:-Kir»otton, Bise and till them with de>oair. Slowly, as-tho niaht «ro\ys cliiller, Ooze the life-diup^ t"om e.iuli heait"; ■Gioaning\ tcaspiiii>, iifruely struggling, Souls ami bodies live apait. Faco to heaven lios a liero, - Old'and and won* with toil ; EVu in death his noble features Lighton'd with a manly smile. Some sweet dieam had ho in dying Of his vine-clad c-ot afar, Comely wife and blooming daughter lladieut as the morning star. bed are kneeling Wife and 'daughter, sad and lone ; Hise, sweet souls! Not all your anguish . Can restore a spirit flown. "Here a youth, shot-rent and stiffen'd, Backward grasps the bloody sod, 'To thejfrowning sky upturning Ej cc' that seem to look for God ! ""Farewell !" sobb'd a blue-eyed maiden Just a little week before ; Sobb'd upon her biea&r, and kiss'd him, — Never shall she kiss him moie ! Here a face, ioujrh-he\vn and bearded, Softens in the sleep of death ; 'Comrades say he whisper'd " Mother !" With his last expiring breath, "Who shall tell thee, widow'd mother, That thou hast no more a eon ? Sadder than all shrieks of battle Will be the despairing groan. Ye who, fired by mad ambition, To this pass the nation bi ought, God foigiveyou, — scarcely man may, — For the ruin ye have wrought ! H.J.B.

Young jJan of Business (to his senior partner) : You'll excuse me, but don't you think it's a bad habit to always have your hands in your pockets? — S.l\ : Certainly I do, but show me the British householder who can help it. You're a singlo man, and therefore no judge. " Ovei doing it." — Minister (to one of his flock) . ' : I'm shocked Janies, to see you've broken your promise and hu.ve been indulging again." (James han^s his head.) '" You really should give it up. It does you gieat harm — makes you unlit for "work — spoils your appeal ance — ye canna tak' yer breakfast — yu've a bad tdsto i' yer mooth — gives ye a splittin' headache " James : '* A-ye, menester! But ye hae sufferred yersel' !"