Black Beetles in Amber

It was a solemn rite as e'er

Was seen by mortal man.

The celebrants, the people there,

Were all Republican.

There Estee bent his grizzled head,

And General Dimond, too,

And one—'twas Reddick, some one said,

Though no one clearly knew.

I saw the priest, white-robed and tall

(Assistant, Father Stow)—

He was the pious man men call

Dan Burns of Mexico.

Ah, 'twas a high and holy rite

As any one could swear.

"What does it mean?" I asked a wight

Who knelt apart in prayer.

"A mass for the repose," he said,

"Of Colonel Markham's"——"What,

Is gallant Colonel Markham dead?

'Tis sad, 'tis sad, God wot!"

"A mass"—repeated he, and rose

To go and kneel among

The worshipers—"for the repose

Of Colonel Markham's tongue."