“The Sentimental Song Book” has long been out of print, and has been forgotten by the world in general, but not by me.  I carry it with me always—­it and Goldsmith’s deathless story.

Indeed, it has the same deep charm for me that the Vicar of Wakefield has, and I find in it the same subtle touch—­the touch that makes an intentionally humorous episode pathetic and an intentionally pathetic one funny.  In her time Mrs. Moore was called “the Sweet Singer of Michigan,” and was best known by that name.  I have read her book through twice today, with the purpose of determining which of her pieces has most merit, and I am persuaded that for wide grasp and sustained power, “William Upson” may claim first place: 

William Upson.

Air—­“The Major’s Only Son.” 
Come all good people far and near,
Oh, come and see what you can hear,
It’s of a young man true and brave,
That is now sleeping in his grave.

Now, William Upson was his name
If it’s not that, it’s all the same
He did enlist in a cruel strife,
And it caused him to lose his life.

He was Perry Upson’s eldest son,
His father loved his noble son,
This son was nineteen years of age
When first in the rebellion he engaged.

His father said that he might go,
But his dear mother she said no,
“Oh! stay at home, dear Billy,” she said,
But she could not turn his head.

He went to Nashville, in Tennessee,
There his kind friends he could not see;
He died among strangers, so far away,
They did not know where his body lay.

He was taken sick and lived four weeks,
And Oh! how his parents weep,
But now they must in sorrow mourn,
For Billy has gone to his heavenly home.

Oh! if his mother could have seen her son,
For she loved him, her darling son;
If she could heard his dying prayer,
It would ease her heart till she met him there.

How it would relieve his mother’s heart
To see her son from this world depart,
And hear his noble words of love,
As he left this world for that above.

Now it will relieve his mother’s heart,
For her son is laid in our graveyard;
For now she knows that his grave is near,
She will not shed so many tears.

Although she knows not that it was her son,
For his coffin could not be opened
It might be someone in his place,
For she could not see his noble face.

December, 17.  Reached Sydney.

December, 19.  In the train.  Fellow of 30 with four valises; a slim creature, with teeth which made his mouth look like a neglected churchyard.  He had solidified hair—­solidified with pomatum; it was all one shell.  He smoked the most extraordinary cigarettes—­made of some kind of manure, apparently.  These and his hair made him smell like the very nation.  He had a low-cut vest on, which exposed a deal of frayed