Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-08-08
"The Song Of the YermOnters."

In answer TO AN inquiry from Hon. Daniel Rob |
erts the orator at the Bennington Centennial Gel |
to the authorship of the Song of the |
Vermonters, John q. Whittier the Quaker
poet replies as follows:
COAX KNOLL, DANvERs, MASS, |
Goth It'll mo-, 1877. |
Dear Friend The Song of Vermonters was
written in 1883 or A. and WAS an attempt at lit
erary mystfcation hardly excusable even in a
young writer was curious to see il it could he
received an old-time production. TWAS printed
in Buckingham's Ne,o Enyldnd Magazine and re-
manned unsupported for nearly a quarter Of a
century. How it was ut last discovered rs mine,
| cannot conceive as had never owned it, was
early interested in the history of Vermont and in
Ethan Allen, whose life and adventures awak-
ened the enthusiasm even of Quaker boy whose
peace principles, at that time, were traditionary
rather than the result 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 it is sadly de-
fective; and it is not without regret that find
the boys practical joke still alive and confronting
me in late manhood.
am, very truly, thy friend,
JoHN G. WHITTIER.
We subjoin the poem, which, though previously
printed in our columns, never tires for Vermont
readers, and will have fresh ring, in this year
of centennial memories.
The sosG THE vgRMoSTERs
Ho, all to the borders yernonters down,
with your breeches deeskn and Jackets of brown
with your red wooden caps and your moccasns, come
TO the gathering summons Of trumpet and drum.
Come down with your rifles let gray wolf and fox
Howl on the shade OF their primitive rocks;
Let the bear feed securely from pig-pen and stall;
Here's two-egged game for your powder and ball.
ON our South the Dutchman. enveloped In grease
And arming for battle, while cantng for peace;
On our east crafty Meshech has gathered his band
To hang up our leaders, and eat out our land.
Io all to the rescuel For Satan shall work
No gain for his legons OF Hampshire and York
They claim possessions the pitifu knayes-
The tributes pay shall be prisons and sravesi
Let Clinton and Ten Brock with brides in their hands,
stll seek to divide us and parcel our lands;
We've coats for our traitors, whoever they
The warp is Of fedthers, the filling OF tart
Does the 81 Old Bay State" tnreaten2 Does Congress
complain?
Swarms Hampshire in our borders again?
Bark the war-dogs of Britain aloud ON the lake,
Let em come! what they can. they welcome To take.
What seek they among u.s. The pride Of our wealth
Is comfort, eontentment. and labor and health,
And lands which. as freelnen. only have trod
independent OF ALL save the merces OF God.
| Yet we owe no allegiance; we bow to throne;
| our ruler Ia law and the law il our own;
| Our leaders themselves felow-men,
Who can handle the sword the seythe, or the pen.
Our wives are all true and our daughters are fair,
with their blue eyes smiles aud their light flowing hair
| All brisk at their wheels I'LL the dark-eyen fall
Then bhthe at the slegh-ride. the hnsking, and ball.
| We've sheep on the hillside; we've OH the plain;
And gaytasseed eorn-helds, and rank growing grain.
| There are deer the mountains and wood-pgeons fly
From the crack Of muskes, like clouds the sky
And there's fish In sreanlles and rivers, which take
Their course from tie hills to broad bosome lake,
| Through rock-arched wnoosk, the salmon leaps free
And the portly shad follows all fresh from the
Like sunbeam the pIckerel glides through his pool
And the spotted trout sleeps where the water Is cool,
| Or darts from his shelter OF rock and OF root,
| Al the beavers quick plunge, the anglers pursuit
And ours are the mountains which awfully rise,
TN they their green heads the top the skes
And ours the forests unwasted, nnshon,
Save where the wild path OF the tempest Is torn,
Aud though savage and Wild be this climate OF ours
And brief he Our season Of fruits and VI flowers,
Far dearer the blast round our mountain which raves
Than the zephyr which breathes slaves
lIunah for YERMosTl for the land which we TIL
Must have sons 10 defend her, from valley and hli
Leave the harvest to rot on the HELD where 1t growsi
And the reapng Of wheat for the reaping ct foes
From far Michisoow's wild valley, to where
Poosoousuck steals down fiom his wood-ccled lair
From Shoolioook river Ia Lutteroek town
Ilo, all 10 the rescued vennoniers down
Come York Hampshire, come traitors and knaves
II ye rule DER land, ye shall rule oerour graves
our vow Is recorded, banner unfured
In the name Of Vermont defy al ne cord