BINGEN ON THE RHINE.

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His comrade bent to lift him, but the spark of life had fled :
The soldier of the Legion in a foreign land was dead!
And the soft moon rose up slowly, and calmly she looked down
On the red sand of the battle-field, with bloody corpses strown.
Yes, calmly on that dreadful scene her pale light seemed to shine,
As it shone on distant Bingen fair Bingen on the Rhine.

WILLIE WINKIE.

WEE Willie Winkie rins through the town,
Up stairs and doon stairs, in his nicht-gown.
Tirlin' at the window, cryin' at the lock,
"Are the weans in their bed?

- for it's now ten o'clock."

Hey, Willie Winkie! are ye comin' ben?

The cat's singin' gay thrums to the sleepin' hen,

The doug's speldered on the floor, and disna gie a cheep; But here's a waukrife laddie, that winna fa' asleep.

Onything but sleep, ye rogue!-glow'rin' like the moon,
Rattlin' in an airn jug wi' an airn spoon,

Rumblin', tumblin' roun' about, crawin' like a cock,
Skirlin' like a kenna-what-wauknin' sleepin' folk!

Hey, Willie Winkie! the wean's in a creel!
Wamblin' aff a bodie's knee like a vera eel,

Ruggin' at the cat's lug, and ravelin' a' her thrums :
Hey, Willie Winkie! See, there he comes!

Wearie is the mither that has a storie wean,

A wee stumpie stoussie, that canna rin his lane,
That has a battle aye wi' sleep, before he'll close an ee;
But a kiss frae aff his rosy lips gies strength anew to me.

WILLIAM MILLER.

THE LEGEND OF THE STEPMOTHER.

I.

As I lay asleep, as I lay asleep,
Under the grass as I lay so deep,
As I lay asleep in my cotton sirk
Under the shade of Our Lady's kirk,
I wakened up in the dead of night,
I wakened up in my death-sirk white,
And I heard a cry from far away,

And I knew the voice of my daughter May:

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Mother, mother, come hither to me!

Mother, mother, come hither and see!

Mother, mother, mother dear,

Another mother is sitting here.

My body is bruised, and in pain I cry;
On straw in the dark afraid I lie;

I thirst and hunger for drink and meat;
And, mother, mother, to sleep were sweet!"
I heard the cry, though my grave was deep,
And awoke from sleep, awoke from sleep.

II.

I awoke from sleep, I awoke from sleep:
Up I rose from my grave so deep!
The earth was black, but overhead

The stars were yellow, the moon was red;
And I walked along, all white and thin,
And lifted the latch and entered in,

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THE LEGEND OF THE STEPMOTHER.

And reached the chamber as dark as night,

And though it was dark my face was white:
"Mother, mother, I look on thee!

Mother, mother, you frighten me!

For your cheeks are thin and your hair is gray!
But I smiled, and kissed her fears away;
I smoothed her hair and I sang a song,
And on my knee I rocked her long:
"O mother, mother, sing low to me;
I am sleepy now, and I cannot see!"
I kissed her, but I could not weep;
And she went to sleep, she went to sleep.

III.

As we lay asleep, as we lay asleep,
My May and I, in our grave so deep,
As we lay asleep in the midnight mirk,
Under the shade of Our Lady's kirk,
I wakened up in the dead of night,
Though May my daughter lay warm and white;
And I heard the cry of a little one,

And I knew 't was the voice of Hugh my son:
"Mother, mother, come hither to me!
Mother, mother, come hither and see!
Mother, mother, mother dear,
Another mother is sitting here.

My body is bruised and my heart is sad;
But I speak my mind, and call them bad.
I thirst and hunger night and day,
And were I strong I would fly away!"

THE LEGEND OF THE STEPMOTHER.

I heard the cry, though my grave was deep,
And awoke from sleep, and awoke from sleep.

IV.

I awoke from sleep, I awoke from sleep:
Up I rose from my grave so deep!
The earth was black, but overhead

The stars were yellow, the moon was red;
And I walked along, all white and thin,
And lifted the latch and entered in:
"Mother, mother, and art thou here?
I know your face, and I feel no fear.
Raise me, mother, and kiss my cheek,
For O, I am weary and sore and weak!"
I smoothed his hair with a mother's joy,
And he laughed aloud, my own brave boy!
I raised and held him on my breast,
Sang him a song, and bade him rest:
"Mother, mother, sing low to me -
I am sleepy now, and I cannot see!'
I kissed him, and I could not weep,
As he went to sleep, as he went to sleep.

V.

As I lay asleep, as I lay asleep,

With my girl and boy in my grave so deep,

As I lay asleep I awoke in fear

Awoke, but awoke not my children dear,

And heard a cry so low and weak

From a tiny voice that could not speak;

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