HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX.

I SPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris and he;

I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three;

"Good speed!" cried the watch as the gate-bolts undrew, "Speed!" echoed the wall to us galloping through;

Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest,

And into the midnight we galloped abreast.

Not a word to each other: we kept the great pace

Neck and neck, stride by stride, never changing our place. I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight,

Then shortened each stirrup and set the pique right,

Re-buckled the check-strap, chained slacker the bit;

Nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit.

'Twas moonset at starting, but while we drew near

Lokeren, the cocks crew, and twilight dawned clear;

At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see,

And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume;

And the bride-maidens whispered, "Twere better by far,

To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar."

One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear,

When they reached the hall-door, and the charger stood near; So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung,

So light to the saddle before her he sprung!

"She is won! we

are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur; They'll have fleet steeds that follow," quoth young Lochinvar.