THE UNSEEN COMRADES.

Last night I saw an armed band, whose feet

Did take the martial step, although they trod

Soundless as waves of light upon the air.

( Silent from silent lips the bugle fell. )

The wind was wild; but the great flag they bore,

Hung motionless, and glittered like a god

Above their awful faces while they marched.

And when I saw, I understood and said —

“If these are they whom we did love, and give,

What seek they?” But one sternly answered me,—

“We seek our comrades whom we left to thee:

The weak, who were thy strength; the poor, who had

Thy pride; the faint and few who gave to thee

One supreme hour from out the day of life,

One deed majestic to their century.

These were thy trust: how fare they at thy hands?

Thy saviors then — are they thy heroes now?

Our comrades still; we keep the step with them,

Behold! As thou unto the least of them

Shalt do, so dost thou unto us. Amen.”