 | Poems |  |
FROM INDIA.
“O come you from the Indies, and soldier can you tell
Aught of the gallant 90th, and who are safe and well?
O soldier, say my son is safe—for nothing else I care,
And you shall have a mother's thanks—shall have a widow's prayer.”
Aught of the gallant 90th, and who are safe and well?
O soldier, say my son is safe—for nothing else I care,
And you shall have a mother's thanks—shall have a widow's prayer.”
“O I've come from the Indies—I've just come from the war;
And well I know the 90th, and gallant lads they are;
From colonel down to rank and file, I know my comrades well,
And news I've brought for you, mother, your Robert bade me tell.”
And well I know the 90th, and gallant lads they are;
From colonel down to rank and file, I know my comrades well,
And news I've brought for you, mother, your Robert bade me tell.”
79
“And do you know my Robert, now? O tell me, tell me true,
O soldier, tell me word for word all that he said to you!
His very words—my own boy's words—O tell me every one!
You little know how dear to his old mother is my son.”
O soldier, tell me word for word all that he said to you!
His very words—my own boy's words—O tell me every one!
You little know how dear to his old mother is my son.”
“Through Havelock's fights and marches the 90th were there;
In all the gallant 90th did, your Robert did his share;
Twice he went into Lucknow, untouch'd by steel or ball,
And you may bless your God, old dame, that brought him safe through all.”
In all the gallant 90th did, your Robert did his share;
Twice he went into Lucknow, untouch'd by steel or ball,
And you may bless your God, old dame, that brought him safe through all.”
“O thanks unto the living God that heard his mother's prayer,
The widow's cry that rose on high her only son to spare!
O bless'd be God, that turn'd from him the sword and shot away!
And what to his old mother did my darling bid you say?”
The widow's cry that rose on high her only son to spare!
O bless'd be God, that turn'd from him the sword and shot away!
And what to his old mother did my darling bid you say?”
“Mother, he saved his colonel's life, and bravely it was done;
In the despatch they told it all, and named and praised your son;
A medal and a pension's his; good luck to him I say,
And he has not a comrade but will wish him well to-day.”
In the despatch they told it all, and named and praised your son;
A medal and a pension's his; good luck to him I say,
And he has not a comrade but will wish him well to-day.”
“Now, soldier, blessings on your tongue; O husband, that you knew
How well our boy pays me this day for all that I've gone through,
All I have done and borne for him the long years since you're dead!
But, soldier, tell me how he look'd, and all my Robert said.”
How well our boy pays me this day for all that I've gone through,
All I have done and borne for him the long years since you're dead!
But, soldier, tell me how he look'd, and all my Robert said.”
“He's bronzed, and tann'd, and bearded, and you'd hardly know him, dame,
We've made your boy into a man, but still his heart's the same;
For often, dame, his talk's of you, and always to one tune,
But there, his ship is nearly home, and he'll be with you soon.”
We've made your boy into a man, but still his heart's the same;
80
But there, his ship is nearly home, and he'll be with you soon.”
“O is he really coming home, and shall I really see
My boy again, my own boy, home? and when, when will it be?
Did you say soon?”—“Well, he is home; keep cool, old dame; he's here.”
“O Robert, my own blessèd boy!”—“O mother—mother dear!”
My boy again, my own boy, home? and when, when will it be?
Did you say soon?”—“Well, he is home; keep cool, old dame; he's here.”
“O Robert, my own blessèd boy!”—“O mother—mother dear!”
| Poems | |