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Page 30
"Probable enough," remarked Hand.
"It's a very pretty story," said Ransom, "and I'm inclined to swallow it
as truth."
"I'm satisfied of its truth," said Colson. "But I wouldn't ask any of
you to believe it, if there's anything in it staggers you."
"I think Rugsdale was served as all such traitors in such times should
be served," said Hanson. "Hurra! for Gineral Washington."
"Three cheers for General Washington!" suggested Hand, and the three
cheers were given. A song was called for by several voices, and a young
man volunteered to favour the company with "Liberty and Washington," the
song which follows:--
When Freedom, from her starry home,
Look'd down upon the drooping world,
She saw a land of fairy bloom,
Where Ocean's sparkling billows curl'd;
The sunbeams kiss'd its mighty floods,
And verdure clad its boundless plains--
But floods and fields and leafy woods,
All wore alike a despot's chains!
"Be free!" she cried, "land of my choice;
Arise! and put thy buckler on;
Let every patriot raise his voice
For Liberty and Washington!"
The word went forth from hill to vale,
Each patriot heart leapt at the sound;
Proud Freedom's banner flapp'd the gale,
And Britain's chains fell to the ground.
Man stood erect in majesty,
The proud defender of his rights:
For where is he would not be free
From stern oppression's deadening blights!
Be free--be free then, happy land!
Forever beam the light that shone
Upon the firm and dauntless band,
Who fought beside our Washington!
Lo! where the forest's children rove
Midst woody hill and rocky glen,
Wild as the dark retreats they loved--
What now are towns were deserts then.
The world has marked her onward way,
Beneath the smile of Liberty;
And Fame records the glorious day
Which made the western empire free.
Be free--be free then, glorious land!
In union be thy millions one;
Be strong in friendship's holy band,
Thy brightest star--our Washington!
This song and the applause which succeeded wakened the sleeping fifer,
Brown, who looked around him as if wondering where he was.
"Hallo, old boy," said Kinnison, "you look frightened. What's the matter
with you?"
"I was dreaming," replied Brown. "I thought I was at the battle of
Lexington, and the roar of the British guns was in my ears. But I find
it is only the roar of your voices. Liberty and Washington was our
war-cry on many a field, and I thought I heard it again."
"It was our peace cry," said Hand.
Some of the young men, we regret to say, were not members of any of the
temperance societies; and as they had partaken freely of the stimulating
beverages which had been called for, they were getting very noisy and
losing much of that bashfulness which had hitherto kept them silent. In
this state of things, Mr. Hand was forced to entreat one of the veterans
to amuse them with some interesting incidents of the Revolution.
"There was a British officer, whose career has often interested me,"
said Hand, "and that was Colonel Tarleton. He was a daring, fiery
soldier, according to the accounts of him; but a savage man."
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