 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
NANCY HART.
Here, under a tree in the meadow, I loll in my hammock and read
Of deeds that were done by our women, when service was matter of need;
When we fought with the State of Great Britain, and wrested our rights from its thrall,
And hunted its loyal defenders, and gave them to bayonet and ball.
Of deeds that were done by our women, when service was matter of need;
615
And hunted its loyal defenders, and gave them to bayonet and ball.
Of the dames and the damosels stately, who graces and courtesy had,
Bedecked with their jewels and laces, in lustring or taffeta clad,
Few scared at the terrible fever, or shrank from the festering wound,
And the patriot soldier in dying both comfort and tenderness found.
Bedecked with their jewels and laces, in lustring or taffeta clad,
Few scared at the terrible fever, or shrank from the festering wound,
And the patriot soldier in dying both comfort and tenderness found.
There were matrons and maidens more humble, in modest log-cabins they dwelt,
Who, dressed in their ginghams or linseys, as earnest a sympathy felt;
Who were ready as scouts, or as helpers, whenever the need of them came;
Who could skilfully handle the firelock, and draw a fine bead on the game.
Who, dressed in their ginghams or linseys, as earnest a sympathy felt;
Who were ready as scouts, or as helpers, whenever the need of them came;
Who could skilfully handle the firelock, and draw a fine bead on the game.
Among all these women of mettle, well-known to the country-side then,
Whose quick-witted action in peril threw shame on the dullness of men,
I single the Georgian Nancy, tall, supple, and iron of limb,
Called Hart from the name of her husband—but little they tell us of him.
Whose quick-witted action in peril threw shame on the dullness of men,
I single the Georgian Nancy, tall, supple, and iron of limb,
Called Hart from the name of her husband—but little they tell us of him.
Hart sat in his cabin at noon-time, when one of his children ran in,
And said: “Ther's six Tories a comin'; an', daddy, you git while you kin!”
Nancy hurried him off to the cane-brake, his trusty old rifle in hand—
“Have ready the men when I want 'em; I'll deal with this pestilent band.”
And said: “Ther's six Tories a comin'; an', daddy, you git while you kin!”
616
“Have ready the men when I want 'em; I'll deal with this pestilent band.”
With his men came the partisan leader; and “Howdy, Mis' Hart,” was his speech;
“Yer man isn't home? I allowed not. I jedged he'd be outen our reach.
The nex' time our luck mought be better.” Then added with sarcasm grim—
“I allow we'll take some of his victuals, so long as we mayn't take him.”
“Yer man isn't home? I allowed not. I jedged he'd be outen our reach.
The nex' time our luck mought be better.” Then added with sarcasm grim—
“I allow we'll take some of his victuals, so long as we mayn't take him.”
“You're more free than welcome,” quoth Nancy; “but better to beg than to steal;
And I never denied bread an' bacon to any one wantin' a meal.”
So she went in a hurry to cooking, and then, when the board had been spread—
“You men draw yer cheers to the table—the bait is all ready,” she said.
And I never denied bread an' bacon to any one wantin' a meal.”
So she went in a hurry to cooking, and then, when the board had been spread—
“You men draw yer cheers to the table—the bait is all ready,” she said.
A bountiful table was Nancy's; the bacon was done to a turn
The biscuits the whitest and lightest, the butter just fresh from the churn;
A pile, in the comb, of new honey, fried eggs, golden balls in white rings,
And the juiciest venison collops—they thought it a banquet for kings.
The biscuits the whitest and lightest, the butter just fresh from the churn;
A pile, in the comb, of new honey, fried eggs, golden balls in white rings,
And the juiciest venison collops—they thought it a banquet for kings.
Their muskets they stacked at the entrance, and scared themselves at the board,
While the hostess, attentive and silent, their rye-coffee carefully poured;
But, ere they had swallowed a morsel, away from the table she sprang,
And, seizing a gun from the doorway, its butt brought to the floor with a clang.
While the hostess, attentive and silent, their rye-coffee carefully poured;
617
And, seizing a gun from the doorway, its butt brought to the floor with a clang.
Cried the dame—“You are masterful soldiers, to camp the wrong side of the door:
Ther's five of yer muskets behind me, but here is one musket before!”
“O come now, Mis' Hart!” whined the leader, “that's loaded; so please put it down;
Don't you know that we're friends to the Congress? We've all left the side of the Crown.”
Ther's five of yer muskets behind me, but here is one musket before!”
“O come now, Mis' Hart!” whined the leader, “that's loaded; so please put it down;
Don't you know that we're friends to the Congress? We've all left the side of the Crown.”
Nancy smiled, and she spake to her eldest—“Give dad an' the neighbors a call;
The rats came for bait to the rat-trap, and here they are caught, one and all.”
Then sternly the musket she levelled—“Be silent, and tell me no lies!
My forefinger rests on the trigger; the man who moves for'ard, he dies!”
The rats came for bait to the rat-trap, and here they are caught, one and all.”
Then sternly the musket she levelled—“Be silent, and tell me no lies!
My forefinger rests on the trigger; the man who moves for'ard, he dies!”
Plucky woman! rough-spoken and fearless, prompt, earnest, with love of the land,
With hatred of those who'd enslave it, and bearing her life in her hand—
She is dead; but her name paints a picture; an Amazon, straight as a sword,
With six pallid Tories before her, doomed, shriftless, to die by the cord.
With hatred of those who'd enslave it, and bearing her life in her hand—
She is dead; but her name paints a picture; an Amazon, straight as a sword,
With six pallid Tories before her, doomed, shriftless, to die by the cord.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |