The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-29 00:00:00

TILE SOLDIER'S DREAM.

(From Punch.)
Oh sad was my heart as for marching we mustered,
For I thought of the wife I was leaving behind,
And the six hungry mouths round their mother that
clustered,
With bread at high price, and with work hard to find.
On my watch aboard ship, standing sentry ashore,
By the bivouac fire, still that thought would pursue;
Till I dreamed a glad dream—and was sorry no more—
'Twas the time of the night when they say dreams are
true.

I dreamed that I saw the poor babes I'd forsaken,
And her whom too soon a sad mother I'd made,
Looking still, as she looked, when that last leave was taken,
Not knowing from whom to seek counsel or aid.
I heard their shrill cry as they asked her for bread,
Heard her answer—" The bread of the parish or none !"
Saw them shivering for cold on a blanketless bed,
And crouched round a hearth whence the last spark was
gone.

When sudden, with look like an angel of grace,
And hands that bore raiment and firing and food,
I saw a kind lady come into the place
To cheer my sad wife and her clamorous brood.
" Take, eat, and be warm ; 'tis the offering of friends,"
She said ; " not the dole on the pauper bestowed ;
It comes from the country your husband defends,
Which to you pays a debt that to him it feels owed.
"His heart will be stouter, his arm will be stronger,
When he knows that his children are clothed, taught,
and fed ;
That his wife lives in dread of the workhouse no longer,
To the shame of the country for which he has bled."
Then I cried in my sleep, `‘ Take the soldier's thanks-
giving !"
When lo ! the reveille proclaimed break of day ;
And I stood to my arms with a heart free from grieving,
All fears for my wife and my babes chased away.

UNIVE_RSITY INTELLIGENCE.

CAMBRIDGE, MARCH 28.

THE NEW BOTANIC GARDENS.
The Syndicate appointed on this subject have made a
report to the Senate, stating that there is a sum of
3,4681. 4s. Bd. standing in the names of the governors,
and recommends the erection of a group of houses for
the house plants, the cost of which will fall within this
sum, leaving the question of the formation of an orna-
mental structure in the centre of the garden to a future
period. Plans have been prepared, and estimates ob-
tained, the latter amounting to 2,8481., and the Syndi-
cate recommends that they be adopted and the work ex-
ecuted. A grace to confirm will be offered to the
Senate on the 31st inst., and the plans and documents
may be seen at the Pitt Press on Wednesday and Thurs•
day next.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester con-
tinued in the same state yesterday. The Royal Duchess
was able yesterday to leave her chamber for the drawing-
room. The Queen and Royal family, with the young
princes and princesses are daily visitants to the Duchess.
The Viscount and Viscountess Canning entertained
on Monday evening, in Grosvenor-square, Earl Gran-
ville, Lord and Lady Jocelyn, and a select party. Her
ladyship, we understand, was prevented from going into
waiting yesterday on her Majesty, to relieve the Coun-
tess of Mount Ed,tTecumbe, in consequence of the demise
of the venerable Duke of Portland, nearly related to his
lordship.

Ma.
EWART'S LIBRARIES BILL.—In consequence of
the great interest caused by Mr. Ewart's Libraries Bill
in the parish of St. James's, Westminster, a committee
has been formed, consisting of Lord De Manley, Donald
Nicoll, Esq., County Magistrate, and Messrs. Bidgood
Smith, Geeson, and Watkins, to consider the practica-
bility of establishing a library and reading room for the
use of the parishioners and others, and to report thereon.