_A poetic line from Gray admits of the following twenty-eight
variations without changing the accent:_
The weary ploughman plods his homeward way,
The ploughman, weary, plods his homeward way,
His homeward way the weary ploughman plods,
His homeward way the ploughman weary plods,
The weary ploughman homeward plods his way,
The ploughman, weary, homeward plods his way,
His way, the weary ploughman homeward plods,
His way, the ploughman, weary, homeward plods,
The ploughman, homeward, plods his weary way,
His way the ploughman, homeward, weary plods,
His homeward weary way the ploughman plods,
Weary, the ploughman homeward plods his way,
Weary, the ploughman plods his homeward way,
Homeward, his way the weary ploughman plods,
Homeward, his way the ploughman, weary, plods,
Homeward, his weary way, the ploughman plods,
The ploughman, homeward, weary plods his way,
The ploughman, weary, homeward plods his way,
His weary way, the ploughman homeward plods,
His weary way, the homeward ploughman plods,
Homeward the plowman plods his weary way,
Homeward the weary ploughman plods his way,
The weary ploughman, his way, homeward plods,
The ploughman, weary, his way homeward plods,
The ploughman plods his weary, homeward way,
Weary, the ploughman, his way homeward plods,
Weary, his homeward way the ploughman plods.
From the Gem of the Prairie.
* * * * *
"KEEP THAT TESTAMENT IN YOUR VEST POCKET, OVER YOUR HEART."
We have been forcibly reminded of an interesting anecdote of the
Revolution, while witnessing so many young men in the ranks of the
volunteer companies, in connection with the highly praiseworthy
resolution of the Nashville Young Men's Bible Society, to present a
copy of the New Testament to each officer and private constituting the
regiment quartered here.
The fond-hearted mother had assisted in adjusting upon her son the
"tow frock and trowsers," had tightly secured the knapsack, canteen
and cartridge box in the strings twisted with her own fingers from the
same material as his clothes; as he turned, on opening the door, to
speak the "manly good-bye," she suppressed the parting tear, lest it
might damp the flame of freedom which fired his noble soul, and echoed
the "good-bye" with a forced smile.
As she went to the window to take another look, she discovered the
Testament had been forgotten; she caught it in her hand, ran to the
door--called him loudly, holding the book in her uplifted hand, in
order to show him why she stopped, and soon stood by his side. Without
uttering a word she put the book in its place, grasped his hand,
looked him full in the face, and with quivering lips, heart big with
emotion, checks bedewed with tears of maternal affection, she spoke:
"My son, I would not have you stay; your country has the FIRST claim
upon you; be true to that as you have been dutiful to me, and Heaven
will protect you--KEEP THAT TESTAMENT IN YOUR VEST POCKET, OVER YOUR
HEART!"
After faithfully serving the term of his enlistment, he returned to
his home. Before he uttered a word, he took from his "vest pocket" the
old Testament, and there lay British bullet, snugly imbedded where the
force of the powder had driven it, and this was the only shot he had
received while fighting for his country.--_Nashville Union_.
* * * * *