Fadette.--Memphis Appeal.

Sister, hark! Atween the trees cometh naught but summer breeze? All is gone-- Summer breezes come and go. Hope doth never wander so-- No, nor evermore doth Woe.

Sister, look! Adown the lane treadeth only April rain? All is gone-- Through the tangled hedge-rows green glimmer thus the sunbeam's sheen, Dropping from cloud-rifts between?

Sister, hark! the very air heavy on my heart doth bear-- All is gone!-- E'en the birds that chirped erewhile for the frowning sun to smile, Hush at that drum near the stile.

Sister, pray!--it is the foe! On thy knees--aye, very low-- All is gone, And the proud South on her knees to a mongrel race like these-- But the dead sleep 'neath the trees.

See--they come--their banners flare gayly in our gloomy air-- All is gone-- Flashed our Southern Cross all night--naught but a meteoric light In a moment lost to sight?

Aye, so gay--the brave array--marching from no battle fray-- All is gone,-- Yet who vaunteth, of your host, maketh he but little boast If he think on battles most.

On they wind, behind the wood. Dost remember once we stood-- All is gone-- All but memory, of those days--but we've stood here while the haze Of the battle met the blaze.

Of the sun adown yon hill. Charge on charge--I hear them still.-- All is gone!-- Yet I hear the echoing crash--see the sabres gleam and flash-- See one gallant headlong dash.

One, amid the battle-wreck, restive plunged his charger black-- All is gone-- Whirrs the partridge there--didst see where he rode so recklessly? Once he turned and waved to me.

"Ah," thou saidst, "the smoke is dark, scarce can I our banner mark"-- All is gone-- All but memory; yet I see, darksome howsoever it be, How to death--to death--rode he.

Not a star he proudly bore, but a sword all dripping gore-- All is gone-- Dashes on our little band like yon billow on the strand-- Like yon strand unmoved they stand.

For their serried ranks are strong: thousands upon thousands throng-- All is gone, And the handful, true and brave, spent, like yonder dying wave, Fall back slowly from that grave.

Low our banner drooped--and fell. Back he spurs, mid shot and shell-- All was gone, But he waves it high--and then, on--we sweep them from the glen-- But he ne'er rode back again.

Ah, I smiled to see him go. How my cheek with pride did glow! All is gone-- All, of pride or hope, for me--but that evening, hopefully Stood I at the gate with thee,

Sister, when at twilight gray marched our soldiers back this way-- All is gone-- In the woods rang many a cheer--how we smiled! I did not fear Till--at last was borne a bier.

Sweetest sister, dost thou weep? Hush! he only fell asleep-- All is gone-- And'twere better he had died--free, whatever us betide-- Our galling chains untried.

We were leaning on the gate. Dost remember, it grew late-- All is gone-- Yet I see the stars so pale--see the shadows down the vale-- Hear the whip-poor-will's far wail,

As if all were in a dream. Through yon pines the moon did gleam-- All is gone-- On that banner-pall of death--on that red sword without sheath-- And--I knew who lay beneath. Did I speak? I thought I said, let me look upon your dead-- All is gone--- Was I cold? I did not weep. Tears are spray from founts not deep-- My heart lies in frozen sleep.

Sister, pray for me. Thine eyes gleam like God's own midnight skies-- All is gone-- Tuneless are my spirit's chords. I but look up, like the birds, And trust Christ to say the words.