And now, when the cows came back at night, The feeble father drove them home. For news had come to the lonely farm The summer day grew cold and late, He went for the cows when the work was done; Brindle, Ebony, Speckle, and Bess, Shaking their horns in the evening wind Cropping the buttercups out of the grassBut who was it following close behind? Loosely swung in the idle air The empty sleeve of army-blue, And worn and pale, from the crisping hair, For Southern prisons will sometimes yawn, The great tears sprang to their meeting eyes— For the heart must speak when the lips are dumb And under the silent evening skies Together they followed the cattle home. Time and its Changes. HERE is no charm in time, as time, nor good; The long days are no happier than the short ones. 'Tis some time now since I was here. We leave Our home in youth, no matter to what end; Study, or strife, or pleasure, or what not; And coming back in few short years, we find All as we left it, outside; the old elms, The house, grass, gates, and latchet's selfsame click; On some the world Play a round game with friends. 1 OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES was born at Cambridge, Mass., August 29, 1809, and at this time (1882), he occupies the chair of Anatomy and Physiology in Harvard University. At the age of twenty, Holmes graduated at Harvard, and commenced the study of law. Law was soon abandoned for medicine. He studied in Europe, and in 1836 graduated at Cambridge as doctor of medicine. In 1838 he became professor of Anatomy and Physiology in Dartmouth College, and in 1847 accepted the same position at Harvard. The following are among his literary works: Poetry, a Metrical Essay; Terpsichore; Urania; Astræa. The above poems were delivered before college and literary societies. He is also author of three excellent works, entitled Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, The Professor at the Breakfast Table, and The Poet at the Breakfast Table. Three other well known works of his are Elsie Venner, published in 1861; The Guardian Angel, in 1868; Mechanism in Thought and Morals, in 1872. Besides his excellent literary works already noted, he is author of valuable medical works. |