Washington's Birthday Part 29

1735. In seventeen hundred thirty-five He was a child, all wide-awake, alive.

1738. I speak for seventeen thirty-eight, He told no falsehood, small or great.

1741. Thus speak the lips of seventeen forty-one: His work in copybooks was nearly done.

1743. In seventeen hundred forty-three He loved in military sports to be.

1752. My days of seventeen fifty-two No finer form could bring to view.

VOICES.

Away, ye years! No more, no more!

[_They retire_.

Arise, thou ghost of fifty-four.

(_Arise 1754._)

The French and Indian War this year begun, Its first gun fired by youthful Was.h.i.+ngton; The shots flew fast from hidden foe, And many a one was then laid low, Yet never a wound that grand form felt, Though shots like rain at him were dealt.

Old Indian chiefs declared a charm Preserved his life from every harm.

[_Retire._

VOICES.

Come forth, ye vanished seventeen seventy-five.

No man methinks that knew thee is alive.

(_Arise 1775._)

I proudly rise from the vanished past, Behold a dark cloud gathering fast!

At first no bigger than a hand, 'Tis spreading over all the land, And men are hurrying here and there, Their brows all grave with anxious care.

Upon the green at Cambridge gaze, List to the shouts the people raise, As on his war-horse, proud and calm, Sits he, the nation's strong right arm; Beneath the spreading elm-tree's shade, Commander-in-chief he there is made Of young America's armies all.

Who is it thus the people call?

'Tis Was.h.i.+ngton, the star of light, That shone through all the country's night.

[_Retire._

VOICES.

Come back, ye years that now are o'er, And tell us of this man yet more.

(_Arise 1776 and 1777. In concert_.)

Together we rise to speak his fame, Who won a grand, immortal name At Trenton and at Princeton too.

More brilliant deeds where can we view?

On History's page they brightly gleam.

Him "first in war" we rightly deem.

[_Retire._

VOICES.

Behold a shadow dark and weighty!

Stand forth, thou ghost of seventeen eighty.

(_Arise 1780_.)

Hunger and cold, and suffering great In my last days was the sad fate Of Was.h.i.+ngton and his soldiers brave.

The name "hard winter" to me clave.

But still the grand old patriot fire Within one breast did ne'er expire.

In cause so grand he placed a faith sublime, That far outweighed the sorrows of the time.

[_Retire._

VOICES.

What canst thou tell us, seventeen eighty-one, Of this far-famed, immortal Was.h.i.+ngton?

(_Arise 1781_.)

I see the British soldiers, one by one, Surrendering their arms to Was.h.i.+ngton.

The war of revolution now is o'er, And joyful shouts from every hillside pour.

As soon as war's black flag is furled, The admiration of the world, Bearing the love of countless grateful hearts, George Was.h.i.+ngton unto his home departs.

The "first in war," and "first in peace,"

His memory shall never cease.

[_Retire._

VOICES.

Once more we call. Come forth and s.h.i.+ne, Spirit of seventeen eighty-nine.

(_Arise 1789_.)

My year beheld George Was.h.i.+ngton Above all men the ruling one, Of the United States first President, His name a glory to our country lent.

[_Retire._

VOICES.

Come forth, thou ghost, the last in line; Come back, oh seventeen ninety-nine.

(_Arise 1799_.)

I rise with sorrow in my face, Which time can never quite efface.

In the last month of the Last year Of the LAST century (dost thou hear?) There pa.s.sed away a kingly soul, And sadly all the bells did toll; The people mourned their leader much; Their feelings in one mighty rus.h.!.+

Swept back o'er all the years gone by, And heartfelt was the nation's cry O'er Was.h.i.+ngton whom tongue and pen Proclaim the first in hearts of countrymen.

[_Retire._

SCHOOL.

"First in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen."

VOICES.