Volume 25 — IN EAST AND NORTH.
Reading edition
Two sisters stand by Stamboul's sunny waters, Two sisters sit where Arctic ice-winds rave— Hands clasped, the first watch a fleet's crew at quarters; Hands clasped, the second weep beside a grave. The same two sisters;—long upon each other, Stern have they frowned across their Channel sea: But now all rivalries and hates they smother, And sit thus, hand in hand laid lovingly. Why, sisters, rest ye thus at peace together, Your ancient feuds and factions all laid by?— Why smile you in that purple Asian weather? Why weep you 'neath that leaden Polar sky? "Two causes, stranger, hold us thus united— Both fit to make true friends of noble foes: In the bright East we stand to see wrong righted, In the black North, a hero's eyes we close. "Those battle flags that side by side are swelling Speak of brute force defied, of law maintained, Those funeral flags that side by side are trailing, Speak both of loss endured and triumph gained. "Yon banded fleet to all the nations teaches He that doth wrong his wrong shall sore abye; The icy monument of Bellot preaches How nobly love can live, how grandly faith can die. "Are not these lessons worthy of the giving? To give them is't not well we use our might? Then leave us to our gladness and our grieving, Under the Eastern sun, beneath the Polar night."
CHINESE HUMANITY.
The Chinese Imperial general offered to his soldiers two dollars a head—the head duly cut off—of the enemy. Well, the enemy not forthcoming, the gallant soldiers took off the heads of their friends. The heads becoming cumbrous from their number, the general declared that he would be sufficiently satisfied with the instalment of ears. Whereupon the gallant Chinese accosted the villagers, men and women, in Shaksperian utterance—"Lend us your ears," and they granted the loan as security for their head.
Epitaph on a Plucked Man.
His Pluckings sore long time he bore, But Paley was in vain; At length, disgusted, he took and "cussed" it, And didn't try again.