THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. It was a summer evening, Old Kaspar's work was done, She saw her brother Peterkin In playing there had found; That was so large, and smooth, and round. Old Kaspar took it from the boy, Who stood expectant by; And then the old man shook his head, And heaved a natural sigh: "'Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he, "Who fell in the great victory. "I find them in the garden, For there's many here about; The ploughshare turns them out: "Now tell us what 'twas all about," Young Peterkin he cries; And little Wilhelmine looks up, With wonder-waiting eyes: "Now tell us all about the war, And what they kill'd each other for." "It was the English," Kaspar cried, "Who put the French to rout; But what they kill'd each other for I could not well make out: But every body said," quoth he, "That 'twas a famous victory. "My father lived at Blenheim then, Yon little stream hard by ; They burn'd his cottage to the ground, So with his wife and child he fled, Nor had he where to rest his head. "With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide, And many a tender mother then, And new-born baby died: But things like that, you know, must be 'They say it was a shocking sight For many a thousand bodies there Lay rotting in the sun : But things like that, you know, must be After a famous victory. "Great praise the Duke of Marlboro' won, And our good Prince Eugene.' 'Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!” Said little Wilhelmine.— Nay, nay, my little girl," quoth he, "It was a famous victory. "And everybody praised the Duke Who this great fight did win.""But what good came of it at last ?” Quoth little Peterkin. 'Why that I cannot tell," said he : "But 'twas a famous victory." |