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Show CIVIL. WAR. "Rifleman, shoot mo a fancy shot Straight at the heart of yon prowling vidette; Ring me a ball in the glittering spot That shines on his breast like an amulet !" "Ah, captain ! here goes for a fine drawn bead. There's music around when my barrers in tune!" Crack ! went the rifle, the messenger sped. And dead from his horse fell the ringing dragoon. dra-goon. "Now, rifleman, steal through the bushes and snatch From your victim some trinket to handle first blood. A button, a loop, or that luminous patch That gleams, in the moon, like a diamond stud "Oh. captain! I staggered, and sunk in my track, When I gazed on the face of that fallen ridette, For irJboked so like you, as he lay on hU back, That ruv heart rose within me and masters me yet' "But I snatched off the trinket this locket of gold; An inch from the center my lead broke its way, Scarce grazing the picture, so fair to behold. Of a beautiful lady in bridal array." "Ha! rifleman, fling me the locket! 'tis she, My brother's young bride and the fallen dragoon dra-goon Was her husband Hush! soldier, 'twas Heaven's decree, We must bury him there by the light of the moon! But hark! the far bugles their warnings unite; War is a virtue, weakness a sin; There's a lurking and loping around us to-night Load again, rifleman; keep your hand in!" Charles D. Shanley. |
