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The Poetical Works, Including the Drama of 'The Two Men of Sandy Bar
The Poetical Works Including the Drama of 'The Two Men of Sandy Bar Author:Bret Harte Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Xattfe 'Bunnp. (malvehn Hill, 1864.) [" After the men were ordered to lie down, a while rabbit, which had been hopping hither and thither over the field sw... more »ept by grape Uk! musketry, took refuge among the skirmishers, in the breast at corporal."—Rtfort tfthe Battle of Mahtrn Hill] Bunny, lying in the grass, Saw the shining column past; Saw the starry banner fly, Saw the chargers fret and fume, Saw the flapping hat and plume— Saw them with his moist and shy Most unspeculative eye, Thinking only, in the dew, That it was a fine review. Till a flash, not all of steel, Where the rolling caissons wheel, Brought a nimble and a roar Rolling down that velvet floor, And like blows of autumn flail Sharply threshed the iron hail. Bunny, thrilled by unknown fears, Raised his soft and pointed can, Mumbled his prehensile lip, Quivered his pulsating hip, As the sharp vindictive yell Rose above the screaming shell; Thought the world and all its men- All the charging squadrons meant— All were rabbit-hunters then, All to capture him intent. Bunny was not much to blame: Wiser folk have thought the same— Wiser folk who think they spy Every ill begins with " I." Wildly panting here and there, Bunny sought the freer air, Till he hopped below the hill, And saw, lying close and still, Men with muskets in their kindr. (Never Bunny understands That hypocrisy of sleep, In the vigils grim they keeft As recumbent on that spot They elude the level shot.) One—a grave and quiet man, Thinking of his wife and child Far beyond the Rapidan, Where the Androsaggin smiled—- Felt the little rabbit creep, Nestling by his arm and side, Wakened from strategic sleep, To that soft appeal replied, Drew him to his blackened breast, And— But you have guessed the rot Softly o'er that chosen pai...« less