The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-29
LIE TONER OF The SEINE.

a few strips 81 plank and a fortress OK
wood
Ard courage tetwixt them and Paris
there stood.
That rude tower covered the champions
OF France.
SO few, the foe counted the band at
glance.
These men, were they many as brave.
there. 4 trow,
The Norman that host might have count
ed till now.
10. swift from the city messenger sped.
And scarce gathered breath TIL his err
rand was said:
Return, .ye brave knights. ere the NOR
row comes on,
The foe may in mockery bid ye be gone
Gene back. ye have calamity done your
devoir.
Our traitorous river doth rise to the
roar.
And struggling to span the full waters in
vain.
Yon fran bridge. ere nightfall. will sink
In the Seine
One glance az the Normans. one gaze on
the Seine.
Then spakc they their vow as enc man
TO remain.
Tell Paris Ills Joy with her foemen to
stay.
While cen our dead bodies can block up
their way.
"shan we. craven watch-dogs Of France,
hurry back
To our threshold, and leave them the
same open track
Mo- Death will be triumph, while Paris
We know.
II we may not reach thee. no mere can me
foe"
with locked hands the pledge to each
other they gave
with courage grand, silent, and deep as
the grave.
That in its still glory like summer eve
shCne.
More calm. more intense as its sunset
drew on.
They shook hands with life without shud-
der or sign.
They loosened their bounds md their fai-
cons let fy:
Sent farewells 20 hearts that ere night
sending.
But the nrmly-set lips never shook IN the
should be rendirg.
But why to that slender youth taking
That grey-haired ole knight? They are
father and son,
And the spirit that time in the one can
not smother,
Hath not waited Tor time to grow strons
I'm the other.
With pride and fond ycsrnlns the fathers
eyes rest
on the young face that blooms DER the
steel-coyered breast,
And turn from the brow in its maiden
like snow
To the manhood that burns n the dark
eyes below.
Then spake he: And must tho 1rst hue
OF thy same
Re red with thy young life, ON, last OF
my nance
Too soon for its glory too soon not 10
shun
The death that IS born OF fierce ven
geance, my son.
For me IL is little: dread not their rage;
Life painlessy drops from the loose grasp
OF age.
But on thee are its strong bands us
honors untried,
my pride"
Il leave thee not. father! the country
that gave
My place mid her bravest. then close
me my grave.
And lived l forever Flmes hishest couiu
be
10 higher than thls;-that l fought De-
side thee"
"Thy mother. God help her! sits griev-
ing alone,
No child's voice Ger sladdened her ear
save thine own,
oil. silent
oh. what when she's reft OF US both in
one day..
"Thinkest thou she could welcome the
recreant son,
That LEFT thee. her dear lord, here to
perish alOnel
Gould / bear her TO wish, in her agony
Wild
That she never had looked on the lace OF
a child?'
'Then think of the bright love so precious
Betrothed While fair infants We played at
All lonely that golden-haired maiden will
Not long: for her sweet life lies hidden in
thine"
The gallant boys visage flushed up the
brow,
And the words OF his answer were shaken
and low
Il think Of her most-my life she might
But a Blot on my name the true heart
could not bear.
And. father. know she will tenderly
,ro ebere with nv mother her desolate