f sea books and sea battles with which you
are acquainted.

2. What is the high point of interest in this
story? What happened? How is the story related to
Browning's "Herve Riel"?

3. In modern warfare, how do the ships communicate
with each other? Contrast briefly naval warfare in
Queen Anne's time (the early seventeen hundreds)
with naval warfare of to-day as to: (_a_)
propulsion of ships; (_b_) armor; (_c_) guns; (_d_)
range of fighting.

4. What modern machines operate now in water
fighting? Describe one of these.

LITTLE GIFFEN

BY FRANCIS O. TICKNOR

This poem is based on an actual occurrence. A lad,
nursed back to life, rejoins the hard-pressed
Southern troops and is killed in the first battle.
Ticknor (1822-1874) was a Georgian. By profession a
physician, his love of poetry led to the production
of some of the finest lyrics of the South. Among
these the best known are "Little Giffen" and "The
Virginians of the Valley."

Out of the focal and foremost fire--
Out of the hospital walls as dire--
Smitten of grapeshot and gangrene--
Eighteenth battle and he sixteen--
Specter such as you seldom see, 5
Little Giffen of Tennessee.

"Take him and welcome," the surgeon said;
"Little the doctor can help the dead!"
So we took him and brought him where
The balm was sweet in our summer air; 10
And we laid him down on a wholesome bed--
Utter Lazarus, heel to head!

And we watched the war with bated breath--
Skeleton boy against skeleton death!
Months of torture, how many such! 15
Weary weeks of the stick and crutch;
And still a glint in the steel-blue eye
Told of a spirit that wouldn't die,

And didn't! Nay, more! in death's despite
The crippled skeleton learned to write.
"Dear Mother," at first, of course; and then,
"Dear Captain," inquiring about the men.
Captain's answer: "Of eighty and five, 5
Giffen and I are left alive."

Word of gloom from the war, one day:
"Johnston's pressed at the front, they say!"
Little Giffen was up and away;