Eighth Grade

with the glory left out. The battle is just over, and those
who are left of the company of soldiers are lined up for roll
call by the orderly to see how many have been killed or
wounded. Try to realize the deeper meaning of the whole
incident as you read.

"Corporal Green !'' the Orderly cried;
"Here!'' was the answer loud and clear,
From the lips of a soldier who stood near,
And "Here!" was the word the next replied.

"Cyrus Drew!"--- then a silence fell
This time no answer followed the call;
Only his rear-man had seen him fall:
Killed or wounded-he could not tell.

There they stood in the failing light,
These men of battle, with grave, dark looks,
As plain to be read as open books,
While slowly gathered the shades of night.

The fern on the hillsides was splashed with blood,
And down in the corn, where the poppies grew,
Were redder stains than the poppies knew,
And crimson-dyed was the river's flood.

For the foe had crossed from the other side,
That day, in the face of a murderous fire
That swept them down in its terrible ire;
And their lifeblood went to color the tide.

"Herbert Cline !''-At the call there came
Two stalwart soldiers into the line,
Bearing between them this Herbert Cline,
Wounded and bleeding, to answer his name.

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