 | Young folks' centennial rhymes |  |
24
THE BOSTON BOYS.
The General's
room had a look of gloom,
His face bore a deep-marked frown;
With wrinkled brow he was pondering how
To govern Boston town.
His face bore a deep-marked frown;
With wrinkled brow he was pondering how
To govern Boston town.
He thought of the care he was doomed to bear
From the rebels, night and day,
And longed once more to be on the shore
Of England, far away.
From the rebels, night and day,
And longed once more to be on the shore
Of England, far away.
He mused of the trials and self-denials
That manhood's days annoy,
And wished he could play now and then a day,
A jolly and careless boy.
That manhood's days annoy,
And wished he could play now and then a day,
A jolly and careless boy.
Forgetting, though small the troubles all
Of a child, from manhood's view,
'Tis easily shown, if the truth be known,
Boys have their troubles, too.
Of a child, from manhood's view,
'Tis easily shown, if the truth be known,
Boys have their troubles, too.
25
Now the sentinel cried, in the street outside,
“You bold young rebels, go!”
And the words came loud, as from a crowd,
“When we do, please let us know!”
“You bold young rebels, go!”
And the words came loud, as from a crowd,
“When we do, please let us know!”
“We've a word to say to your chief to-day,”
Cried a clear voice, young of age:
“You may as well know we never'll go
Till we've talked with General Gage.”
Cried a clear voice, young of age:
“You may as well know we never'll go
Till we've talked with General Gage.”
Still the sentinel cried, in the street outside,
“Begone, you rascally crew!”
The answer sounded, and far resounded,
“Please hold your breath till we do!”
“Begone, you rascally crew!”
The answer sounded, and far resounded,
“Please hold your breath till we do!”
The General eyed the aid by his side,
And said, “You had best go out
And view the boys who are making this noise,
And what it is all about.”
And said, “You had best go out
And view the boys who are making this noise,
And what it is all about.”
And the aid-de-camp, with soldierly tramp,
Went, looking sober and sage;
But, with a smile on his face the while,
Came back to General Gage.
Went, looking sober and sage;
26
Came back to General Gage.
“There's a sight to see in the street,” said he:
“Boys a hundred, more or less;
And still they stay, and still they say
They've a grievance for redress.
“Boys a hundred, more or less;
And still they stay, and still they say
They've a grievance for redress.
“And some have a trace of rage in their face,
And some a smile to win;
And some are dressed in the city's best,
And some clad ragged and thin.”
And some a smile to win;
And some are dressed in the city's best,
And some clad ragged and thin.”
The General smiled, for he had a child,
With many a winning way;
And he said, “'Twere no sin; let their leaders in,
And hear what they have to say.”
With many a winning way;
And he said, “'Twere no sin; let their leaders in,
And hear what they have to say.”
So eight or ten, like gentlemen,
Each one with cap in hand,
Marched in and bowed to the General proud,
And the General's smile was bland.
Each one with cap in hand,
Marched in and bowed to the General proud,
And the General's smile was bland.
27
Then the leader did say, “We have come to-day,
As of right it doth belong,
To tell you how you should not allow
Your soldiers to do us wrong.
As of right it doth belong,
To tell you how you should not allow
Your soldiers to do us wrong.
“Once, twice, and thrice they have broke the ice
Of our favorite skating-pond;
For naught it was done but to spoil the fun
Of which we as boys are fond.
Of our favorite skating-pond;
For naught it was done but to spoil the fun
Of which we as boys are fond.
“We spoke with them oft, in language soft;
They only used us worse.
We threatened to see the powers that be;
They answered us with a curse.
They only used us worse.
We threatened to see the powers that be;
They answered us with a curse.
“And we come and say to you to-day,
Boys have rights as well as men;
This is a free land, and we will not stand
The breaking our ice again!”
Boys have rights as well as men;
This is a free land, and we will not stand
The breaking our ice again!”
The General gazed at the flushed face raised
To his, with a pleased surprise;
And the courage-flame that is ever the same
Sprung into his kindled eyes.
To his, with a pleased surprise;
28
Sprung into his kindled eyes.
He turned to the aid, and softly said,
“We never can laurels wreathe,
By fighting the ones whose very sons
Draw liberty when they breathe.
“We never can laurels wreathe,
29
Draw liberty when they breathe.
“My lads, you may go; skate to and fro
In your daily sports once more.
If to spoil your peace they do not cease,
I will punish my soldiers sore.
In your daily sports once more.
If to spoil your peace they do not cease,
I will punish my soldiers sore.
“British boys true in spirit are you,
Whatever may befall.”
But they raised a shout, marching briskly out,
“No! no! we are Yankees all!”
Whatever may befall.”
But they raised a shout, marching briskly out,
“No! no! we are Yankees all!”
| Young folks' centennial rhymes | |