But at last, 't is said, some prisoners escaped from Old Brown's durance,

And the effervescent valor of the Chivalry broke

out,

When they learned that nineteen madmen had the marvelous assurance

Only nineteen-thus to seize the place and drive them straight about;

And Old Brown,

Osawatomie Brown,

Found an army come to take him, encamped around the town.

But to storm, with all the forces I have mentioned, was too risky;

So they hurried off to Richmond for the Government

Marines,

Tore them from their weeping matrons, fired their souls with Bourbon whiskey,

Till they battered down Brown's castle with their

ladders and machines;

And Old Brown,

Osawatomie Brown,

Received three bayonet stabs, and a cut on his brave old crown.

Tallyho! the old Virginia gentry gather to the baying! In they rushed and killed the game, shooting lustily

away;

And whene'er they slew a rebel, those who came too late for slaying,

Not to lose a share of glory, fired their bullets in

his clay;

And Old Brown,

Osawatomie Brown,

Saw his sons fall dead beside him, and between them laid him down.

How the conquerors wore their laurels; how they hastened on the trial;

How Old Brown was placed, half dying, on the

Charlestown court-house floor;

How he spoke his grand oration, in the scorn of all denial; What the brave old madman told them, these are

Said the judge, “and all such rebels!" with his most judicial frown.

But, Virginians, don't do it! for I tell you that the

flagon,

Filled with blood of Old Brown's offspring, was first

poured by Southern hands;

And each drop from Old Brown's life-veins, like the red gore of the dragon,

May spring up a vengeful Fury, hissing through your slave-worn lands!

And Old Brown,

Osawatomie Brown,

May trouble you more than ever, when you 've nailed

his coffin down!

EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN.

April 19, 1861.

APOCALYPSE.

The first life lost in the battle with rebellion was that of Private Arthur Ladd, of the Sixth Massachusetts, killed in the attack of the Baltimore mob on his regiment.

TRAIGHT to his heart the bullet crushed;

STRAIGH

Down from his breast the red blood gushed,

And o'er his face a glory rushed.

A sudden spasm shook his frame,
And in his ears there went and came
A sound as of devouring flame.

Which in a moment ceased, and then
The great light clasped his brows again,
So that they shone like Stephen's when

Saul stood apart a little space

And shook with shuddering awe to trace
God's splendors settling o'er his face.

Thus, like a king, erect in pride,

Raising clean hands toward heaven, he cried :

"All hail the Stars and Stripes!" and died.

Died grandly. But before he fell

(O blessedness ineffable!)

Vision apocalyptical

Was granted to him, and his eyes,
All radiant with glad surprise,

Looked forward through the Centuries,

And saw the seeds which sages cast
In the world's soil in cycles past,
Spring up and blossom at the last;

Saw how the souls of men had grown,
And where the scythes of Truth had mown
Clear space for Liberty's white throne;

Saw how, by sorrow tried and proved,
The blackening stains had been removed
Forever from the land he loved;