buttons, and a few pegs, for its construction.
We know of few tents that need more; but
this is as yet only an idea. The author has
also the superior lightness of his tents in
his favour. The present government
hospital tent weighs five hundred and seven
pounds; his, of smaller outside dimensions
and greater inside space, weighs only three
hundred and ninety-five pounds. This is no
trifling difference for an army of weary,
harassed, foot-sore men; and, all other things
equal, would surely decide in favour of any
form which would include it among its
characteristics.

THE BLOOMING ROSE.

I.

'TWAS holiday in Fairy Land;
    Its queen's fair presence-room
One delicately radiant flush
    Of spiritual bloom,

(For it was made of flowers), was fill'd
    With ev'ry loyal fay,
Whose many-tinted robes were glass'd
    In founts of diamond-spray.

About the throne that, pure as pearl,
     Rose from the emerald ground,
The motion of their silver wings
     Sprinkled a starlight round.

The life-breath of all fragrant things
     Thrill'd through that mystic hall;
The essence of a moonlight night
     Fell softly over all.

Up rose the queen, and with her hand
     She hush'd the mingling mirth,
And bade her favorite bard approach,
     And sing a tale of earth.

He came: a rainbow spann'd his wings,
    An opal gemm'd his breast;
A drop of pure ethereal flame
    Burned on his glowing crest.

His changeful robe in cloud-land wrought,
    Ne'er faded nor grew old,
The spirits of the early morn
    Had strung his harp with gold.

He sang. His wild harp's melody,
     Still melting through his rhyme;
Each little fairy held its breath,
     Each tiny hand kept time:

II.

"Erewhile our queen the royal word
     Her bower-maidens gave,—
Who brought from earth the rarest gift,
     No more should be her slave;

"But roam at will, nor homage pay
     Save only once a year,
And gain, beside, what power of spell
     Most precious seem'd to her.

"And so it chanced, one gentle fay
    Through a vast city flew:
A fairy's desert, no fresh moss,
     No wild-flowers' lake of dew.

"Where man, to hide God's pleasant earth,
    Pours forth his thoughts in stone,
And almost blots out heaven: the fay,
    With flagging wings, went on.

"Yet, 'mid those weary streets she found
    One spot of rich repose,—
An open window, where a child
    Water'd a budding rose.

"A sweet moss-rose: the glad sprite drew
    Its folding leaves apart;
A memory of Fairy Land
    Breathed from its opening heart.

"A gush of the familiar air
    Seem'd round the fair child shed,
For, o'er a pictured fairy tale
    At times she bent her head.

"A lovely head; the brown hair lit
    With wav'ring lines of gold,
Round a soft brow where innocence
    Its whitest leaf unroll'd.

"The dark eyes shone, the rosy mouth,
    Dewy with childish joy;
Thus rain'd her fancies fresh and fond
     Upon her fragrant toy;

"'I've paid thy price with all I had;
    Ope quickly precious flower.
Sure thou art beautiful enough
    To be a spirit's bower.

"'The homeless children from the street
    They would not let me bring,
So then I thought among the fays
    To ease some suffering.

"'And that some little fairy child,
    Tired, sick, or gone astray,
If I had but a growing flower,
    Might rest therein all day.

"'And if one comes, thy beauty, rose
    For me her love may win,
And she will grieve to hear me tell
    How, this great house within,

"'I never saw my father's face,
    Nor sister knew, nor brother;
And, O, so long I've only had
    A picture of my mother.

"'Then, when she saw me all alone,
    She might stay here to play,
Until to pleasant Fairy Land
    We both could steal away."

"The listening fairy kiss'd the cheek
    That bloom'd above the flower,
Then, exquisitely rested, sank
    Deep in her glowing bower."

The bard-was hush'd, while grateful fays
    Their flower-tubes gaily blew,
And drank unto the kindly child
    In cups of honey-dew.

III.

The tale went on. "A life forlorn
    Had little Una led,
Pillow'd on hireling tenderness,—
    Hard lies the orphan's head!