REESE LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY

CALIFORNIA

I.

THE YOUNG PATRIOT.

THREE years the flying sun and shade

O'er Berkley Hall their change had cast, Since the wild urchin and the maid

Within its loyal portal passed. Two years the invader's war-alarms

Had waked the land, which still defied,

And oft the gleam of patriot arms

From Berkley's turret was descried.

Upon his central roof a tower

Rose and o'erlooked the country wide,

A place scarce fit for lady's bower;
For there was seen, on every side,

Many a cast-off coat of war,

Helmet and sword, with hack and scar,

With guns and pistols crosswise hung,
O'er which the dust of years was flung.

And there through many a changeful hour
The anxious father and the maid
Through telescopic glass surveyed

The impending cloud of battle lower;
They watched it move o'er land and stream,
They saw the white sails come and go,
And all the flashing splendor gleam
Along the bristling plains below.

There had they gazed through one long day,
Watching an army glide away

Beyond the city's western side,-
So far, the line was scarce descried;
But Esther knew a nation's trust

Marched there in that long cloud of dust.

"Thank Heaven !" the loyalist exclaimed, "They are gone !-our city is reclaimed, And England's banner now may fly, To gladden every loyal eye!"

But now a voice, like a clarion clear,
Rang laughing in the speaker's ear :-

"I saw him! and your vaunt is vain; I saw him and his warrior train:

Had you beheld that hero host,

Your fears had not allowed the boast."

Who dared in Berkley's presence proud
Speak rebel words so fierce and loud?
Sir Hugh his hand in anger laid
Upon the handle of his blade;
But when he saw the wild-eyed boy,
And gazed upon his face of joy,

The vengeance in his breast was stayed.

Then, with a tremor on his tongue,

While something paler grew his cheek, As some retarding memory clung

On the rebuke he fain would speak,
He said, “Rash boy, beware! beware!
You put my kindness to the proof.
Is it for this my three years' care
Has sheltered you beneath my roof?
Is it for this-
He said no more:

He saw the tear, the brow of pain,— A look which he had seen before,

And one he would not see again.

"Nay, Ugo, nay!" the maiden cried, Her two hands clasping his between; Her tender eyes to his replied,

And straightway all his troubled mien Grew bright, as when the iris form Glows on the cloud that threatened storm. "Nay, Ugo, nay: speak out, and say The things which you have seen to-day."

"Him have I seen," the boy exclaimed, "Yes, him!—what needs he to be named? The world has only one broad sun, And Freedom's world but Washington."

Even while he spake that fiery word,
The stripling's stature seemed to grow;
All his young hero spirit stirred
Sent to his cheek the warrior glow:
Save the same look, which knew no awe,
Learned on his native mountains wild,
You scarcely longer saw the child
Which thrice a twelvemonth past you saw.

"Him have I seen!-oh, sight to cheer

The patriot when he bleeding lies,

To kindle hope and scatter fear,
And light new fire in dying eyes!

His way

with banners waved and burned, The welkin rang with patriot cheers, From every window fondly yearned Bright eyes that spoke their joy in tears.

And music round his pathway flung
Its gladness in a silver shower,
And over all the great bells swung,

Shouting their joy from every tower.

The snow-white war-horse he bestrode
Stept conscious, with a soul of flame,
As if he knew his master rode

Straight to the glorious gates of Fame.

The coldest gazer's heart grew warm,
And felt no more its indecision;
For every soul which saw that form
Grew larger to contain the vision.

I watched the long, long ranks go by,()
And saw defiance in every eye;