e ladies, cost 120 dollars. The stripes red and white, with an
azure field in the upper part charged with thirteen stars. On
the same field and among the stars was the arms of the United
States, the field of which contained a ship, a plough, and three
sheaves of wheat; the crest an eagle volant; the supporters two
white horses. The arms were put on with paint and gilding. It
took ---- yards. When displayed it appeared well.

The patriotic ladies who presented the flag had taken the arms and
motto, "Virtue, Liberty, Independence," from the title-page of a
family Bible; but unluckily, this Bible, having been published in
Philadelphia, displayed the arms and motto, not of the United States,
but of Pennsylvania. The moral is, learn the arms of your country.

CHAPTER IX

THE FLAG OF FIFTEEN STRIPES AND FIFTEEN STARS

The worthy fathers of our country were long-sighted men. In many
respects they peered far into the future and they laid well the
foundations for a great republic. One thing, however, they forgot;
when they chose a design for a flag with thirteen stripes and a circle
of thirteen stars, they did not realize that the number of States
would probably increase, and that these States would wish to be
represented on the flag. In 1791 Vermont was admitted as a State, and
in 1792 Kentucky also came into the Union. In 1794 the Senate passed a
bill increasing to fifteen the number of both stripes and stars. This
bill was sent to the House, and then came exciting times. Some members
thought it of great importance not to offend new States by giving them
no recognition on the flag. Others called it dishonorable to waste
time over what one man called "a consummate piece of frivolity," when
matters "of infinitely greater consequence" ought to be discussed.
Another declared that the Senate sent the bill for the want of
something better to do. Yet another honorable member did not think it
worth while either to adopt or reject the proposed law, but supposed
"the shortest way to get rid of it was to agree to it." Whether to
"get rid of it" or not, the bill was passed, and went into effect May
1, 1795.

This flag of fifteen stripes and fifteen stars was the one worn by the
frigate Constitution, "Old Ironsides." When, in 1830, it was reported
that this vessel, with its magnificent record, was to be broken up,
Holmes wrote his stirring poem, "Old Ironsides," which ends:--

"Oh, better th