uvertures from Richmond

93

“And, by the way, one little thing more,”

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam, “You 're to refund the cost of the war,”

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam. “Lero, lero, just what I fear 0, just what I fear,”

Says old Uncle Sam, “Lero, lero, fillibustero, just what I fear,"

Says old Uncle Sam.

“Next, you must own our cavalier blood ! ”

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam, “And that your Puritaps sprang from the mud!”

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam. “Lero, lero, that mud cle O, that mud is clear,”

Says old Uncle Sam, “Lero, lero, fillibustero, that mud is clear,"

Says old Uncle Sam.

Slavery 's of course the chief corner-stone,"

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam, “Of our NEW CIV-IL-I-ZA-TION!”

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam. “Lero, lero, that 's quite sincere O, that 's quite sincere,”

Says old Uncle Sam, “Lero, lero, fillibustero, that's quite sincere,”

Says old Uncle Sam.

“You 'll understand, my recreant tool,”

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam, “You ’re to submit, and we are to rule,”

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam. “Lero, lero, are n’t you a hero ! are n't you a hero !"

Says old Uncle Sam, 'Lero, lero, fillibustero, are n't you a hero !”

Says old Uncle Sam.

99

“If to these terms you fully consent,”

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam, “I'll be perpetual King-President,”

Lillibulero, old Uncle Sam. 'Lero, lero, take your som rero, off to your swamps !”

Says old Uncle Sam, “Lero, lero, fillibustero, cut, double-quick ! ”

Says old Uncle Sam.

The cluster'd spires of Frederick stand
Green-wall’d by the hills of Maryland.

Fair as the garden of the Lord
To the eyes of the famish'd rebel horde,

On that pleasant morn of the early fall,
When Lee march'd over the mountain-wall,

Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.

Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,

Flapp'd in the morning wind : the sun
Of noon look'd down, and saw not one.

Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bow'd with her fourscore years and ten ;

Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men haul'd down ;

In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet.

Up the street came the rebel tread,
Stonewall Jackson riding ahead.

Under his slouch'd hat left and right
He glanced : the old flag inet his sight.

“Halt!”-the dust-brown ranks stood fast, “ Fire !”-out blazed the rifle blast.

It shiver'd the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.

JBarbara Frietcbie

97

Quick, as it fell from the broken staff,
Dame Barbara snatch'd the silken scarf.

She lean’d far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.

Shoot, if you must, this old gray head, But spare your country's flag,” she said.

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame
Over the face of the leader came.

The nobler nature within him stirr'd
To life at that woman's deed and word :

“Who touches a hair of yon gray head Dies like a dog! March on!” he said.

All day long through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet :

All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the rebel host.

Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;

And through the hill-gaps sunset light

Shone over it with a warm good-night. Vol. II.