TRIED AND TRUE—AN INCIDENT IN THE WAR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1111, 8 March 1871, Page 2

TRIED AND TRUE—AN INCIDENT IN THE WAR.

We came across.a dead Prussian; he liad a shot in the left side, and, according to our doctors, must have survired iv a conscious state for about ten minutes; he had pushed his knapsack under hia head, and leant upon his arm; the look of his still open eyes was fixed upon the photograph of a girl in his stiff left hand; he had drawn the picture out of the letter-case which lay near him, and had awaited death, his eye rivetted on tl.e beloved features!— AUenieine Zeiiuna.

It is not so hard to discover What Trudchen is thinking: to-day; She dreams of an absent lover There—in the thick of^the fray! O'er fields is her fancy roaming Covered with wounded and dead; Till more than the shades of gloaming Darken that golden head. All, but the past was pleasant! Seemed not the future sweet ? rNever a thought of this present! .:'■-.- Parted—ever to meet? ***# ' ' ■ Sedan to-day must be taken! That every man knows well;; : ' How the old fortress is shaken, Shattered .with shot and shell! " Charge !" Down into the whirlirio- ' Clouds of the battle smoke ; ° Column on column hurling— See where the foe's line broke! What's that ?—a private only Shot in the Prussian ranks :— Ah, for a heart left lonely, Rhine, on thy distant "banks! Yes! it is death! He knows it, Down the field he sinks " Life-blood "—so slowly flows it ? See how the dry ground drinks!" Propt on his knapsack-pillow ; Calm he lies down to die, While the attack's red billow Rolls resistlessly by! Knowing his time is measured, --.-„ Draws he from out his breast— Something—a portrait measured! Now to his chill lips pressed. Thus on that portrait gazing ■ - Waits he his last repose." On it his eyes, fast glazing, Fasten until they close. Now his heart pauses—flutters— Stops! With his dying: breath. "Trudchen!" he fondly utters, Faithful—even in death! T.Hood.