Page images
PDF
EPUB

A WINTER SKETCH.

By WILLIAM CASE, Junr.

From his Urn now Aquarius his waters is pouring,
And the traces of Autumn are all fled away;
Hark! the hollow-ton'd blast, at dread intervals roaring
Seems to chant a sad requiem o'er Nature's decay!

Late the eye gazed enraptur'd on vales, where with lustre Bright beaming fair Ceres so beauteously smil'd; Where the deep-blushing fruit hung in many a cluster, Now far, far extends a waste cheerless and wild.

The trees, in whose shades once the heart grew elater,
Have long cast their honors on earth's naked breast,
On the ear no more vibrates the music of nature,
Save the chirping of winter's sweet rose-bosom'd guest.

But Spring, round her brows a green chaplet entwining, Ere long with wild flowrets shall tapestry the grove; And all the plum'd warblers, their descants combining, Shall welcome the season of joyance and love.

FIRE, FAMINE, & SLAUGHTER.

A WAR ECLOGUE.

The SCENE, a desolated Tract in La Vendee.-FAMINE is discovered lying on the ground: to her enter FIRE and SLAUGHTER.

FAMINE.

Sisters! Sisters! who sent you here?

SLAUGHTER (to FIRE)

I will whisper it in her ear.

No! no! no!

FIRE.

Spirits hear what Spirits tell,

'Twill make an holiday in Hell. No no! no!

Myself I nam'd him once below,

And all the souls, that damned be,

Leapt up at once in anarchy,

Clapp'd their hands and danced for glee.

They no longer heeded ME;

But laugh'd to hear Hell's burning rafters
Unwillingly re-echo laughters !'
No! no! no!

Spirits hear what Spirits tell,
'Twill make an holiday in Hell!

FAMINE.

Whisper it, Sister! so and so!
In a dark hint, soft and low.

SLAUGHTER.

Letters four do form his name

And who sent you?

BOTH.

The same! the same!

SLAUGHTER.

He came by stealth, and unlock'd my den,
And I have drank the blood since then
Of thrice three hundred thousand men.

[blocks in formation]

Letters four do form his name.

He let me loose, and cry'd Halloo!

To him alone the praise is due..

FAMINE.

Thanks, Sister! thanks! the men have bled,
Their wives and their children faint for bread.
I stood in a swampy field of battle;

With Bones and Skulls I made a rattle,

To frighten the wolf and the carrion crow
And the homeless dog-but they would not go :
So off I flew, for how could I bear
To see them gorge their dainty fare.
I heard a groan and a peevish squall,
And thro' the chink of a cottage wall-
Can you guess what I saw there?

BOTH.

Whisper it, Sister! in our ear.

FAMINE.

A baby beat its dying mother,

I had starv'd the one, and was starving the other!

Who bade you do't?

BOTH.

FAMINE.

The same! the same!

Letters four do form his name.

He let me loose, and cry'd Halloo!

To him alone the praise is due.

FIRE.

Sisters! I from Ireland came

Hedge and corn-fields all on flame,
Halloo! halloo ! the work was done-
And on as I strode with my great strides,
I flung back my head and held my sides,
It was so rare a piece of fun

To see the swelter'd cattle run
With uncouth gallop thro' the night,
Scar'd by the red and noisy light.
By the light of his own blazing Cot
Was many a naked Rebel shot :

The house-stream met the flames, and hiss'd,
While crash! fell in the roof, I wist,

On some of those old bed-rid nurses,

That deal in discontent and curses.

[blocks in formation]

Letters four do form his name,

He let me loose and cry'd Halloo !

To him alone the praise is due.

« PreviousContinue »