94

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.

And where is that band who so vaunting

swore

That the havoc of war and battle's confusion A home and a country should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out the foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the

grave;

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand, Between their loved homes, and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land

Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must when our cause it is

just,

And this be our motto "in God is our trust," And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

What Our Flag Says.

ON'T you see me waving here,

Floating proudly through the air?

I say to all beneath my fold,

I'm dearer than rich mines of gold!
O'er all I wave!

I won renown in seventy-nine,

When all were filled with grief and fear;

I always waved along the front,—
My place was never in the rear.
I waved to win!

In more than twenty battles, then,
I saw ten thousand sons, or more,

Give up

their lives to free this soil,

And drive the Briton's from our shore,
That I might wave!

I waved o'er victory and defeat;—
They bore me safe while in retreat,—
The ground was dyed with crimson blood-
To plant me where Burgoyne stood,
That I might wave!

And when Cornwallis said that he
Would make a full surrender,

They cheered and cheered the dear old flag,
Their shouts were loud but tender;

And there I waved!

A few short years again, and I

Was called where muskets rattle,

And there twelve thousand sons, or more,

Gave

up their lives in battle,

That I might wave!

Again they said, in forty-five,
That I must surely go,

98

WHAT OUR FLAG SAYS.

And they would plant my flag-staff there, Way down in Mexico;

And there I waved!

And there I saw three thousand fall,
By the ruthless hand of war,
Which the common soldier in all lands
With weeping does abhor.

O'er them I waved!

And next the men that cheered me once,
And shouted when I won,

At Sumpter rent my peaceful folds,
And tried to shoot me down!-
But there I waved!

They used to take me for a mask,
So they could win renown,

And when the boys in blue approached,
With grape they shot them down!
O'er them I had to wave!

But I had friends, and they were trueThey are the ones to trust;