The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-06
MR.. wHITTIRR's REPLY.
DAE KNOTI DANvpps Mas
YAK hNULLI DANVKKbi NIHBt.,
oQth 9Th mo 1877

2Jth tn no., 1871.
Dear FIiend-The "Song of Vermonters"
was written in 1888 or 4, and was an at
tempt at literary mystification hardly ex-
cusable even in young writer. l was
curious 10 see II it could be received as an
oldtime production. 1t was printed 10
Buckingham's Neso England Maya
zine, and remained unsupported for
nearly quarter of century. How 1t
was at last discovered as mine, cannot
conceive, as had never owned it. was
early interested in the history Of Vermont
and in Ethan Allen. whose life and adyen-
lures awakened the enthusiasm even of
Quaker boy, whose peace principles, at that
time, were Evolutionary rather than the re-
suit OF serious confinement. / have no
copy of the poem, and have no clear idea
Of its character in literary or ethical point
of view. In both respects fear 1t is sadly
defective; and 1t is not without regret that
find the boys practical joke still alive
and confronting me in late manhood.
l am, very truly, thy friend,
JOHN G. WHITTIER.
We subjoin the poem, which, though re-
peatedly printed in our columns in former
years, never tires for Vermont readers, and
will have fresh ring, in this year of GEN.
tennial memories.
TIE SONG OF THE vERM0STERs.'
1910.
Ho, all TO the borders yermonters come down,
With your breeches OF deer-skin and Jackets OF
With your red woollen caps, and your moca.
Sit come
To the gathering summons of trumpet and
drum.
Come down with your rifles !-let gray wolf and
Howl on the shade OF their primitive rocks;
Let the bear feed securely from pig-pen and
Here's two.legged game for your powder anc
ball.
on our south come the Dutchman, enyeloped
And arml for battle, while canting for peace
on our east, crafty Meshecht has gathered his
| band.
| To hang up our leaders. and eat out our land.
Ho, all to the rescue For Satan shall york
| No gain for his legions OF Hampshire and York
They claim our possessions-the pitiful
Tho tribute we pay shall be prisons and graves
Let clinton and Ten Brooks with brides in
| stll seek 10 divide US, and parcel our lands;
| We've COATS for our traitors, whoever they are
| The warp is OF feathers, the flling OF tar!
Does the "old Bay State" threaten Does con.
swarms Hampshire in arms on our borders
Bark the war-dogs OF Britain aloud on the lake :
Let 'em come what they can, they are welcome
| TO take.
What seek they among us! The pride OF oul
Is comfort, cont eminent, and labor and health
And lands which, as freemen, we only have
Independent of all, save the mercies Of God.
Yet we owe no allegiance; we bow to nc
our ruler is law, and the law is our own;
our leaders themselves are our own fellow
| men,
Who can handle the sword, or the scythe. Oh
the pen.
our wives are all true, and our daughters arr
| fair,
With their blue eyes OF smiles, and their ligh
| flowing hair;
All brisk at their wheels till the dark even
| fall,
Then bllthe at the sleigh ride, the husking ant
| ball.
We've sheep on the hillside; we've COWS on tn,
And gay-tasseled corn-nelds, and rank-growini
| grain.
There are deer on the mountains, and wotd
From the crack OF our muskets, like clouds OIL
the sky.
And there's FISH in our streamlets and rivers
which take
Their course nom the hills 10 our broad-bos
omed lake;
Through rocl-arched winooski the salmoi
And the portly shad follows all fresh from tn
sea.
Like a sunbeam the pickerel slides through hi
And the spotted trout leaps where the water 1
|. COOL.
or darts from his shelter OF rock and OF root.
At the beavers quick plunge, or the angler
pursuit.