THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM.

569

“Now tell us what ’twas all about”,Young Peterkin he cries ;

While 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 burnt his dwelling to the ground“And he was forced to fly;

“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 childing mother then,

“And new-born baby died ;

“But things like that, you know, must be

“At every famous victory.

“They say it was a shocking sight“After the field was won ;

“For many thousand bodies here“Lay rotting in the sun;

“But things like that, you know', must be

“After a famous victory.

“Great praise the Duke of Marlbro’ won,“And our good prince Eugene.”