Chips, fragments and vestiges by Gail Hamilton collected and arranged by H. Augusta Dodge |
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INDEPENDENCE
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 | Chips, fragments and vestiges by Gail Hamilton |  |
INDEPENDENCE
(1845)
Oh! what is Independence?
Perhaps some child may say,
I hear them tell a great deal
Of Independent day.
Perhaps some child may say,
I hear them tell a great deal
Of Independent day.
9
When our forefathers lived,
There were many cruel kings
Who did provoke them sadly,
By many wicked things.
There were many cruel kings
Who did provoke them sadly,
By many wicked things.
They would not give them freedom,
Yet made them taxes pay;
They had governors who ruled them
In an oppressive way.
Yet made them taxes pay;
They had governors who ruled them
In an oppressive way.
Their kings would give them charters,
And some were good and wise;
But there were so many bad ones
That these were quite a prize.
And some were good and wise;
But there were so many bad ones
That these were quite a prize.
But when he saw fit to take
These charters all away,
It must be done—for none would dare
His orders disobey.
These charters all away,
It must be done—for none would dare
His orders disobey.
And the produce that they raised
They wa'n't allowed to sell,
Unless to English merchants,
Which did not please them well.
They wa'n't allowed to sell,
Unless to English merchants,
Which did not please them well.
For some time their wrongs they bore,
Although with discontent,
Till to their smothered feelings
They did at last give vent.
Although with discontent,
Till to their smothered feelings
They did at last give vent.
10
For on the fourth of July,
Without fear or delay,
They declared that they were free;
'Twas an eventful day.
Without fear or delay,
They declared that they were free;
'Twas an eventful day.
And to support this freedom
They had fearfully to fight;
But conscience did sustain them,
They felt that they were right.
They had fearfully to fight;
But conscience did sustain them,
They felt that they were right.
And now, this is the meaning,
Give ear to what I say,
Remember your forefathers
On Independent day.
Give ear to what I say,
Remember your forefathers
On Independent day.
| Chips, fragments and vestiges by Gail Hamilton | |