He descended, a little stiffly, I thought, and greeted me cordially, with affable dignity. His manner somehow implied that it was I who had been away. He insisted on my coming into his front yard and sitting down on the bench by the house, while he condescendingly and courteously inquired after the health of his old friends and neighbors. I stayed until supper was announced. The Colonel was always the soul of hospitality; but on this occasion he did not ask me to join him. And I reflected, as I went away, that although he had punctiliously insisted on my sitting down, the Colonel had remained standing during our somewhat protracted conversation. 1 Published by permission of Houghton, Mifflin & Co. And if ever the "Prairie Belle" took fire, A thousand times he swore, He'd hold her nozzle agin the bank Till the last soul got ashore. All boats has their day on the Mississip, The "Movastar was a better boat, But the "Belle" she wouldn't be passed. And so she come tearin' along that nightThe oldest craft on the line With a nigger squat on her safety valve, And her furnace crammed, rosin and pine. The fire bust out as she clared the bar, And quick as a flash she turned, and made For that willer bank on the right. There was runnin' and cursin', but Jim yelled out, Over all the infernal roar, "I'll hold her nozzle agin the bank Till the last galoot's ashore." Through the hot, black breath of the burnin' boat And they all had trust in his cussedness, THE ARMENIAN HORRORS.1 BY WILLIAM WATSON. (From "The Purple East.") [1856-.] NEVER, O craven England, nevermore Summer hath passed, and Autumn's threshing floor Been winnowed; Winter at Armenia's door Snarls like a wolf; and still the sword and flame Sleep not; thou only sleepest; and the same Cry unto heaven ascends as heretofore; And the red stream thou mightst have stanched yet runs; And o'er the earth there sounds no trumpet's tone To shake the ignoble torpor of thy sons; But with indifferent eyes they watch, and see You in high places; you that drive the steeds On faith forsworn that murders babes and men? In silken palaces of perfumed ease. The panther of the desert, matched with these, Fire and plague wind are compassionate, 1 By permission of Mr. John Lane. (Fcap. 8vo. Price 1s. net.) |