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Show women, of little children and the very beasts: " Brother! We hold ! " But the black flood rolled over and on. There, down in its dark tumult, beneath its cruel tumult, I saw men still with arms linked ; women on their knees, clinging to earth; little children drifting-dead, all dead; and the beasts dead. And their eyes were still open facing that death. And above them the savage water roared. But clear and high I heard the Voice call : " Brothers ! Hold ! Death is not ! We live l " And, fronting the edge of the flooding waters, I saw the shades of those dead, with arms yet linked, and heard them crying : " Brother ! We hold I " . . . Then came oblivion. When once more I dreamed, it was light. The plain was free of darkness, free of waters. The River, shrunk and muddied, flowed again within its banks. And Dawn was breaking ; but the stars were still alight. At first it seemed to me that only trees stood on that plain ; but then, in the ground mist fast clearing, I saw the forms of men and women, children, beasts ; and I moved among them, looking at their faces-not those broad and prosperous faces whose eyes were banded with invisibility, but grave With sufiering, carved and strong. And all their eyes, lifted to the sky were shining. ' While I stood thus watching, the sun rose, and heaven brightened to full morning. And, amazed, I saw that the stars had not gone in, but shone there in the blue, crystals of immortality. And above the plain, clad in the hues of spring, I heard the Voice call : " Brothers! Behold! The Stars are lit for ever ! " ‘l Me; By MILLICENT GARRETT FAWCETT THE Belgian-people have given the world an example of heroic courage and self-devotlon which will rank in history with the great deeds of all time. Let no one say that Belgium, devastated and martyred as she is, has ceased to ex1st. Her nationality is stronger, her vitality is more intense than it has ever been. Every Belgian, man, woman, and child, bears himself proudly to-day because of his nationality. Unto each man his handiwork, unto each his crown The Just Fate git'es .‘ Whoso takes the world's life on him, and his own lays down He, dying so, lives. It shouldbe the very first concern of the Allies at the end of the war to see that Belglum remalns a free and independent nation. By THE RT. HON. EARL ROBERTS OF KANDAHAR MY admiration for the part Belgium has played in the war now being waged against aggression, dishonourable contempt of Treaty obligations, falsehood, and injustice, knows no bounds. I feel most strongly that Great Britain owes Belgium a deep debt of gratitude which it will be difficult to repay. Inspired by the noble example of their King, the Belgians arrested the first onslaught of the Germans, and thus gave us time to ward off the punishment we so richly deserve for our neglect to prepare to defend our own interests. Little Belgium has shown to the great nations of the earth that a brave and united people, daring everything and prepared to suffer anything in the sacred cause of liberty, can resist successfully overwhelming numbers for a long time, and materially help towards victory in the end. In the terrible struggle still raging, to the Belgians must be awarded the palm for freely and fearlessly offering themselves as the first bulwark against the invading hordes of Germany. Glorious has been their stand, and priceless the time and the advantage gained thereby. No acknowledgment of their splendid example can be too liberal. No admiration too lavish, no compensation for the loss and misery they have endured, too generous. They have fought heroically for a sacred principle against frightful odds. They have suffered up to the limit of human endurance. God grant that there may be yet in store for them a bright and prosperous future, and a Wa Permanent place in the van of Civilisation and Freedom. By MAURICE HEWLETT FROM ENGLAND O MEN of mickle heart and little speech, Slow, stubborn countrymen of heath and plain, Now have ye shown these insolent again That which to Caesar's legions ye could teach, That slow-proook'd is long~proo0k'd. [Way each Crass Caesar learn this of the Keltic grain, Until at last they reckon it in vain To browbeat us who hold the Western reach. For even as you are, we are, ill to rouse, Rooted in Custom, Order, Church, and King ; And as you fight for their sake, so shall we, Doggedly inch by inch, and house by house ; Seeing for us too there's a dearer thing Than land or blood-and that thing LIBERTY. "gm1'cf4%}[/[g ¥_~. 54 55 |