But what they killed each other for,

I could not well make out:
But everybody said," quoth he,
"That 'twas a famous victory.
My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by.

They burned his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly:

So with his wife and child he fled;

Nor had he where to rest his head.

With fire and sword the country round

Was wasted far and wide,

And many a child and mother then
And new-born baby died:

But things like that, you know, must be,
At every famous victory.

They say it was a shocking sight
After the field was won;
For many thousand bodies there
Lay rotting in the sun :

But things like that, you know, must be,
After a famous victory.

Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,
And our good Prince Eugene."-
"Why 'twas a very wicked thing!"
Said little Wilhelmine.-

"Nay, nay, my little girl," quoth he,
"It was a famous victory;

And everybody praised the Duke,
Who such a fight did win."-

"But what good came of it at last ?"
Quoth little Peterkin.-

"Why, that I cannot tell," said he, "But 'twas a famous victory."

SOUTHEY.

LOCHINVAR.

Oh, young Lochinvar is come out of the west! Through all the wide border his steed was the best; And save his good broadsword he weapon had none,He rode all unarmed, and he rode all alone!

So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war, There never was knight like the young Lochinvar!

He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone,
He swam the Eske river where ford there was none
But, ere he alighted at Netherby gate,

The bride had consented, the gallant came late;
For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war,
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar !

So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall,

'Mong bride's men, and kinsmen, and brothers, and all!

Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword-
For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word:
"O come ye in peace here, or come ye in war,-
Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar ?"
"I long wooed your daughter, my suit you denied:
Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide!
And now I am come, with this lost love of mine
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine!
There be maidens in Scotland, more lovely by far,
Who would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar!"
The bride kissed the goblet; the knight took it up,
He quaffed off the wine, and he threw down the cup!
She looked down to blush, and she looked up to sigh-
With a smile on her lips, and a tear in her eye.
He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar—
Now tread we a measure!" said young Lochinvar.

66

So stately his form, and so lovely her face,
That never a hall such a galliard did grace!

While her mother did fret, and her father did fume, And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume,

And the bride-maidens whispered "Twere better by far

To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar!"

One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear, Then they reached the hall door, and the charger stood near,

So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung,

So light to the saddle before her he sprung!

"She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and

scaur;

They'll have fleet steeds that follow!" quoth young Lochinvar.

There was mounting 'mong Græmes of the Netherby clan;

Fosters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and

they ran;

There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lea,

But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see!— So daring in love, and so dauntless in war,

Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar ? SIR WALTER SCOTT.

SPELLINGS IN THIS BOOK.

home for congratulation-rejoicing

Netherlands--Holland and infatuation-madness

torrent-mountain stream grace-favour

Berwick-town on the R. Bristol-on the Avon

leviathan-sea monster

Richmond Hill--near Rich-line-of battle

Hampstead-near London

Belvoir in V. of B, determined-resolute

Mexico Spanish Con- chime-clock