Hark! I hear the tramp of thousands, 



And of armed men the hum ; 

 Lo! a nation's hosts have gathered 

 Round the quick-alarming drum 

 Saying, "Come, 

 Freemen, come! 

 Ere your heritage be wasted," said the quick-alarming drum. 



"Let me of my heart take counsel; 



War is not of Life the sum ; 

 Who shall stay and reap the harvest 

 When the autumn days shall come?" 

 But the drum 

 Echoed, "Come! 



Death shall reap the braver harvest," said the solemn-sound- 

 ing drum. 



"But when won the coming battle, 



What of profit springs therefrom? 

 What if conquest, subjugation, 

 Even greater ills become?" 

 But the drum 

 Answered, "Come! 



You must do the sum to prove it," said the Yankee-answer- 

 ing drum. 



BRET HARTE 



VOL. XI. A 



