FARRAGUT. Thunderbolt Farragut Hurls the black ships. Now through the battle's roar Clear the boy sings, "By the mark fathoms four," While his lead swings. Steady the wheelmen five "Nor' by east keep her," "Steady," but two alive: How the shells sweep her! Lashed to the mast that sways Over red decks, Round the torn wrecks, Over the dying lips Framed for a cheer, Farragut leads his ships, On by heights cannon-browed, While the spars quiver; Onward still flames the cloud Where the hulks shiver. See, yon fort's star is set, Storm and fire past. Oh! while Atlantic's breast Bears a white sail, While the Gulf's towering crest Tops a green vale; Men thy bold deeds shall tell, Daring Dave Farragut, Thunderbolt stroke! -W. T. Meredith. JOHN BURNS OF GETTYSBURG. John Burns of Gettysburg. HAVE you heard the story that gossips tell Brief is the glory that hero earns, Briefer the story of poor John Burns; The only man who didn't back down When all his townsfolk ran away. That was in July, sixty-three, The very day that General Lee, Flower of Southern chivalry, Baffled and beaten, backward reeled From a stubborn Meade and a barren field. I might tell how, but the day before, The milk that fell like a babbling flood Troubled no more by fancies fine Than one of his calm-eyed, long-tailed kine, That was the reason, as some folk say, He fought so well on that terrible day. And it was terrible. On the right While on the left, where now the graves Up to the pits the rebels kept, Round-shot ploughed the upland glades, Sown with bullets, reaped with blades; Tossed their splinters in the air; The very trees were stripped and bare; |