What wages you gib?" F. M.-"Wages, you rascal? Quart of corn a day, and three shirts and pantaloons a year; for legal hours of work, fourteen hours a day for half the year, and fifteen the other half."* T. C. N.-" Any priv'leges, massa?" F. M.-"Privileges! Ha! ha! Yes, privileges of John Driver's whip, or of such other punishment as I choose to inflict, and of not being believed on oath if you go and peach against me, and of being sold down South when I please, and of being converted by any parson whom I choose to allow." T. C. N.-"Hm. Wife and chil'n my own dis time, mass ?" F. M.-"Ha! ha! ha! Yes-till I or Mr. Overseer want them. But you have the privilege of taking another wife as often as I allow it, and of having as many children as it pays me to bring up." T. C. N.- Beg pardon, massa, but what for you call me servant hired for life?" F. M.-"What_for, you rascal? Because a great man, after whom I named you, when he had written a d-d good book on the 'nigger question,' says that is all the difference between you and those mean, whitelivered Yankee working-men, who are hired by the month or the day." T. C. N." Massa, if him book good book, why's I not privileged to learn read it ?" Wish dey'd gib me a rifle 'fore I dies."-Macmillan's 66 Carlyle pours the dregs of his once fertile brain AN ACT OF VILLAINY.-A correspondent of the Boston Traveller, writing from Sharpsburgh an account of General Kilpatrick's charge on the rebel rear-guard, near Downsville, relates the occurrence of a dastardly act as follows: General Kilpatrick got within half a mile of the enemy's rear-guard, near Downsville, Md., when our spies discovered that lines of rifle-pits were ready to contest their advance. These works were erected on the brow of quite a large hill, and General Kilpatrick at once resolved to feel the strength of his foe. Two companies of the Sixth Michigan cavalry, B and F, were ordered to charge up the hill to the earthworks, which was done in fine style. As our men dashed in sight, the rebels were seen to throw down their arms and hoist a flag of truce. Supposing, of course, the enemy had surrendered, they continued on, and when within fifty or sixty feet the entire rebel force, which must have numbered from seven hundred to one thousand men, seized their rifles and fired upon our men, taking them completely by surprise. Finding the force so much larger than they anticipated, our men gave them a volley and fell back to the main body of cavalry. The rebels, after completely stripping the victims of their infamous treachery of shoes and stockings, fled to a dense piece of woods three miles beyond, carrying off their dead and wounded. I visited the scene of their hellish plot in order to obtain a list of the casualties, and a more revolting spectacle never presented itself. In all directions, as far as the eye could reach on the top of the hill, lay the lifeless remains of our brave defenders, the warm blood oozing from their mortal wounds in streams that formed in pools amid the grass, while at their side, bleeding, lay their faithful chargers, stiff in death, the sharers of their fate. A knot of soldiers gathered around the bodies of the slain, swearing eternal revenge upon the dastardly assassins who so cowardly shot their heroic comrades, and then bayoneted them. This is a horrible fact, which I witnessed personally. After killing our men, they pierced their bodies with bayonets and swords, robbed the dead of their finger-rings, boots, stockings, hats, and every article of value. NOBLE CONDUCT OF THE TWENTY-THIRD NEW-JERSEY. F. M.-"Read, you infernal scoundrel! Why, if-In the Sixth corps we have a New-Jersey regiment, any one were to help you to learn, the law gives him the Twenty-third, which has exhibited an extraordinary fine and imprisonment or lashes, and what do you degree of patriotism truly commendable, and worthy suppose you'd get? So off with you Stay-of public acknowledgment. how old is that yellow nigger, your wife's daughter?" Their term of service had expired, but just as they T. C. N.-"Born three weeks 'fore Miss Susy, were preparing to leave for home, the order was received for the division to cross the river. Their gal lant Colonel ordered out his command, and after forming them into line and telling them of the orders issue: he stated, notwithstanding their time was out, he for one was going with the division, and desired to know how many would go with him; every soul in the regi ment answered Ay! and they are now with a part of the Sixth corps, over the river and under the very guns of the enemy. This is truly a pleasing incident to record, and should receive the highest encomiums of all.-Philadelphia Inquirer, June, 1863. ODE What have we done for thee? Surging with tumult and sorely oppressed- Given our lives to thee! Given thee Liberty, Land of the West. Then hail to our country, the Land of the West! On the Inauguration of the Albany Army Relief Ba- The marvel of nations, the Great and the Blest, zaar, on the 22d February, 1864. BY MISS MARGARET F. MORGAN, OF ALBANY. All hail to our country, the Land of the West! The Sun on his journey may linger to glance On the mosque and the temple, the vine and the dance, But always returns to the haunt he loves best, And leaves his last smile with the Land of the West. O Sun! in thy beauty, untiring like thee, The heart of the Westland is glowing! And over the continent, over the sea, The light of its purpose is throwing. Behold how its broad and beneficent ray Though dark clouds of error still lurk in the way, Come, Morning Light! Come, quickly come, Call in their might, Come, quickly come ! Break, break the tyrant's yoke, Let Treason's wonted ire Break through the prison bars, go with a blessing, Though the air is stirred with combat, From the dim and doubting vision, The green of her forests, the blue of her vales, No spirit more intense and fine Strives where her starry banners wave, No gentler face, beloved, than thine Sleeps in a soldier's grave No heart more brave. And though his mound I may not trace, Or weep above his buried head, The grateful spring shall find the place, And with her blossoms spread His quiet bed. The soul I loved is still alive, The name I loved is Freedom's boast; I clasp these helpful truths, and strive To feel, though great the cost, Nothing is lost: Under the high, unclouded sun, That makes the ship and shadow one, The odorous airs blow thin and fine, Encinctured by the faithful seas, Enthroned in light, and bathed in balm, Yet northward with an equal mind For here o'er Nature's wanton bloom I know that in the snow-white pines OUR COUNTRY'S FLAG. CAMPAIGN SONG. AIR-" Sparkling and Bright." Loyal and true to the red, white, and blue, With high resolve united, We firmly stand for our native land, Then rally we all at the nation's call, When in treason's hour our country's power Then rally we all at the nation's call, While the dear old flag waves o'er us; By our sacred cause-by our rights and laws- By this flag of the free, on the land and the sea, Then rally we all to the nation's call, While the dear old flag waves o'er us; O flag divine! each star of thine Then in Union grand we shall firmly stand, OLD ROSY. B. H. HALL. When Rosy rode along the line, As quickening vengeance draws its breath Where now within the battle-blast A cheer broke in, and then the drum- Then ranged our cannons to the breach Till Rosy rode along the line. Then but to see the chieftain's look; Back rolled the flood, and in its track Then marched we in with three times three Ah! 'twas a sight for men to see, When Rosy rode along the line. KANE O'DONNEL. THE "MONITOR" AND HER CHILDREN. AN ODE, DEDICATED TO THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES. "The gale at this time was raging furiously. The water had ucceeded in rising up to the grate-bars of the furnaces, and was gradually extinguishing the fires. The vessel was now sinking. The moon, which up to this time had been giving some light, was shut in by masses of black clouds; and at three quarters of an hour past midnight, on the morning of the last day of 1862, the Monitor's light disappeared beneath the waves."-Account by a gentleman on the Rhode Island. A ship foundering at midnight!-the Monitor!-ho! Is sweeping the struggling to watery graves; Yes, sinking! like soldier of ancient date, In his death-defying scales and plate- Oh! we think of the day when, from havoc of blood, name. Yet one more agony for the relief Yet one more desperate yearn to save! 'Tis in vain. Alas! But a moment brief And the plunge-the gurgle-the closing grave. Over "turret" a prouder boast of mind, Sublimer symbol-for ever gone!— Than towers colossal of towns refined, That crash and vanish in earthquake's yawn. The great rebel iron-clad, the Merrimac or Virginia. For ever gone with thy guardian power? So easy a prey, in an ill-starred hour, To some hostile giant ruling the sea? "We are here!" the Monitor's Children cry, And the voices are looming athwart the gloom: "Ne'er mother went down, to be raised so high Left such an example-so honored a tomb. For Union, Liberty, Virtue, and Laws. "We are ready! All clad in our heaviest mail, And tyrants, "admonished," no more shall assail'And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." " SUSQUEHANNA. THE AMERICAN NATION. BY JAMES S. WATKINS. The American Nation! She knows not her strength, Whose armies are millions, through Her breadth and her length; Her Union is strength She dreads not the world, Though at her, unjustly, They've thunderbolts hurled. With her navy of iron, And sailors of steel, The American Nation! All freemen we have! The nobleman's slave! The American Nation! Ay, grant that her banner Of starry-gemmed blue Shall now and for ever Wave over the true. EMERALD GROve, Md. THE SOLDIER'S DREAM. Lines suggested after the Alarm and Bloody Contest of Major Cole's Command on Loudon Heights. BY A CONNECTICUT SOLDIER. A soldier reclines in the noisy camp, Dreaming of home and the loved ones there, Unheeding alike the measured tramp And the martial music which fills the air. Oh how delicious that beautiful dream! And looks with delight in each radiant face. Sweet voices, like melody, fall on his ear, And baby-lips prattle in welcoming glee; On the cheek of his wife there's a glittering tear, As she whispers: 'Beloved, I've been praying for thee." She tells him how oft, in the watches of night, That He, in his infinite goodness and might, The soul of the sleeper is thrilling with joy, But his dream is dispelled by the tones of command: "To arms!" shouts the captain; "brave soldiers, to arms! And fight for your country-the foe is at hand!" 'Mid that terrible conflict, 'mid carnage and strife, The soldier is calm, and his spirit is free; He thinks of his children-he thinks of his wifeAnd murmurs: "I know they are praying for me." BLACK TOM. Hunted by his rebel master Over many a hill and glade, Black Tom, with his wife and children, Found his way to our brigade. Tom had sense and truth and courage, Often tried where danger roseOnce our flag his strong arm rescued From the grasp of rebel foes. One day Tom was marching with us Through the forest as our guide, When a ball from traitor's rifle Broke his arm and pierced his side. On a litter white men bore him, Through the forest drear and damp, Laid him, dying, where our banners Brightly fluttered o'er our camp. Pointing to his wife and children, While he suffered racking pain, Said he to our soldiers round him, "Don't let them be slaves again !" "No! by Heaven!" outspoke a soldier, And that oath was not profane"Our brigade will still protect them— They shall ne'er be slaves again." Over Old Tom's dusky features "PEACE ON EARTH." Peace! when over every land and sea "Victoria Apteryx "-" the Wingless Victory." |