Though one stood out upon a whim,
And said the angler's slaughter,
To be exact about the fact,
Was clearly gin and water!

The moral of this mournful tale,

To all is plain and clear,—
That drinking habits bring a man
Too often to his bier;

And he who scorns to "take the pledge,"

And keep the promise fast,

May be, in spite of fato, a stiff

Cold water man at lasti

PART V.

MISCELLANEOUS.

1

MISCELLANEOUS.

ON THE DEATH OF GENERAL TAYLOR

RICHARD T. CONRAD.

Weep not for him! The Thracians wisely gave
Tears to the birth-couch, triumph to the grave.
Weep not for him! Go mark his high career;
It knew no shame, no folly, and no fear.
Nurtured to peril, lo! the peril came,
To lead him on, from field to field, to fame.
Weep not for him whose lustrous life has won
No field of fame he has not made his own!

In many a fainting clime, in many a war,
Still bright-browed Victory drew the hero's car,
Whether he met the dusk and prowling foe
By Oceanic's Mississippi's flow;

Or where the Southern Swamps, with steamy breath,
Smite the worn warrior with no warrior's death!
Or where, like surges on the rolling main,
Squadron on squadron sweep the prairie plain,—
Dawn-and the field the haughty foe o'erspread;
Sunset and Rio Grande's wave runs red!

Or where, from rock-ribbed safety, Monterey
Frowns death, and dares him to the unequal fray,
Till crashing walls, and slippery streets bespeak
How frail the fortress when the heart is weak;
How vainly numbers menace, rocks defy,
Men sternly knit, and firm to do or die;
Or where on thousands thousands crowding rush
(Rome knew not such a day,) his ranks te crush,