When might was right, and law was will!

O! where are they, whose manly breasts
Beat back the pride of England's might;
Whose stalwart arm laid low the crests
Of many an old and valiant knight;
When evening came with murderous flame,
And liberty was but a name?

I see them, in the distance, form
Like spectres on a misty shore;
Before them rolls the dreadful storm,
And hills send forth their rills of gore;
Around them death with lightning breath
Is twining an immortal wreath.

They conquer! God of glory, thanks!
They conquer! Freedom's banner waves
Above Oppression's broken ranks,
And withers o'er her children's graves;
And loud and long the pealing song
Of Jubilee is borne along.

'Tis evening, and December's sun
Goes swiftly down behind the wave,
And there I see a gray-haired one,
A special courier to the grave;
He looks around on vale and mound,
Then falls upon his battle-ground.

Beneath him rests the hallow'd earth,
Now changed like him, and still and cold;
The blood that gave young freedom birth
No longer warms the warrior old;
He waves his hand with stern command,
Then dies, the last of Glory's band.

"A very good song, but a very mournful subject," observed Kinnison. "And
now, friends, we'll part."

"The carriages are at the door," said one of the young men, as the party
arose and prepared to descend. The kindest and best wishes were
exchanged between the old and young men; and over and over again were
promises made to meet the next year, if possible. At length, the
veterans were assisted to descend the stairs. When they reached the
door, they found a crowd collected round it. The sound of the fife and
drum had drawn these people there, and hearing that the survivors of the
Tea-party were in the house, they had become very anxious to see them.
As soon as the old men appeared, they jostled around them, and it was
with much difficulty that they were safely placed in the carriages by
their young friends. Hand and his comrades at last bade the veterans an
affectionate farewell, and the carriages drove away amid cheers given by
the crowd for "The Boston Tea-party."

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YANKEE TEA-PARTY ***

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