ON GUARD.

In the black terror-night, On yon mist-shrouded hill, Slowly, with footstep light, Stealthy, and grim, and still, Like ghost in winding sheet Risen at midnight bell, Over his lonely beat Marches the sentinel! In storm-defying cloak— Hand on his trusty gun— Heart, like a heart of oak— Eye, never-setting sun; Speaks but the challenge-shout, All foes without the line, Heeds but, to solve the doubt, Watchword and countersign. Camp-ward, the watchfires gleam Beacon-like in the gloom; Round them his comrades dream Pictures of youth and home. While in his heart the bright Hope-fires shine everywhere, In love's enchanting light Memory lies dreaming there. Faint, through the silence come From the foes' grim array, Growl of impatient dram Eager for morrow's fray; Echo of song and shout, Curse and carousal glee, As in a fiendish rout Demons at revelry. Close, in the gloomy shade— Danger lurks ever nigh— Grasping his dagger-blade Crouches th' assassin spy; Shrinks at the guardman's tread, Quails 'fore his gleaming eyes, Creeps back with baffled hate, Cursing his cowardice. Naught can beguile his bold Unsleeping vigilance; E'en in the fireflame, old Visions unheeded dance. Fearless of lurking spy, Scornful of wassail-swell, With an undaunted eye Marches the sentinel. Low, to his trusty gun Eagerly whispers he, 'Wait, with the morning sun March we to victory. Fools, into Satan's clutch Leaping ere dawn of day: He who would fight must watch, He who would win must pray.' Pray! for the night hath wings; Watch! for the foe is near; March! till the morning brings Fame-wreath or soldier's bier. So shall the poet write, When all hath ended well, 'Thus through the nation's night Marched Freedom's sentinel.'