Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-08-10
MI. wHITTIEE's REPLY.
Mr. " bII IIEIs IITIll.
OAK KNOLL, DsNvEEs, Mass, |

| OAK KNOLL, DlNvERs, Mass,
| 29th 1th mo. 1877.
Dear Frend-The ''Song of Vermonters"
was written III 1888 or 4. and was an attempt
at literary mystifcation hardly excusable
even in young writer. was curious to see
if it could be received as an old-time produc-
ton. 1t was printed in Buckingham's Nlr
England Magazine and remained unsupported
| for nearly quarter of century. How it
was at last discovered rs mine, cannot con-
ceive as l had never owned it. | was early
interested in the history of Vermont and in
Ethan Allen, whose life and adventures
| awakened the enthusiasm even of Quaker
| boy, whose ptote principles, at that time
| were traditonary rather than the result of
serious confinement. l have no copy of tine
poem, and have no clear idea of its charac-
ter IN literary or ethical point of view. In
both respects fear it is sadly defective and
it is not without regret that l 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 re-
peatedly printed In our columns in former
years, never tires for Vermont readers and
will have a fresh ring. in this year of Centen-
NAL memories.
1HE SONG CT IHE VERMoSILEs.
I.-g
no all to the borders vernonters come down.
WIN your bretchts of deer-skin. aud jackets OF
With your red wOollen caps. and your moceasirs,
come
To the gathering summons Of trumpet and drum.
Come down with our rifles jet :he gray wolf and
Tnul in ha sbaI 90 hafr
Let the hear iced securely from pig-pen and stall
Here's two-legged game for your powder and ball.
On our South come the Dutchmen,- envelopod in
And nrmng forta.tle. while canting Of peace,
On our East, crafty M,shecht has gathered his
band,
To hang 3 up our leaders. and eat out our land.
No gain for his legions Of Hampshire and York
They claim our possessons,-the pitiful knayes.--
The tribute We pay shall be prisons and graves
Let Clinton and Ten BrOeeht with bribes in their
hands,
Still seek to divide us. and parcel our lands;
We've coats Tor our traitors, whoever they arc
The warp is OF f.aihers, the filling oftar
Swarms Hampshire in arms on our borders again
Bark the war-dogs OF Britain aloud on the lake
Let 'em come! what they can, they are weieometo
take.
What seek they among US The pride of our wealth
Il comfort, contentment, and labor and health,
And lands which, rs freemen, we only have trod,
Independent OF all, save the mercies OF God.
We owe no allegiance we bow to no throne;
Our ruler Is law, and the law Is own
Our leaders themselves our own fellOw-men,
Who can handle the sword, or the scythe, or the
Zen.
Our wives are a.! true. and our daughters are fair.
with their blue eyes OF SMILES. and their light flow
All brisk at their wheels till the dark even fall,
Then blithe at the sleigh ride, the huskins. and
ball.
We've sheep on the hillside; we've cows On the
And gay-tassrled corn-felds, and rank growing
grain.
There are deer on the mountains. and wood pigeons
From the crack OF cur rifles. IKE CLOUDS in the
ky.
And there's fish in stIcamleis and rivers. which
Their course from the hills to our broad bOsomed
lake;
Through rock -archcd winOoski the salmon leaps
And the portly shad follows all fresh from the sea-
Like sunbeam the pickerel gldes through his
And the spotted trout sleeps where the water is
Or darts from his shelter of rock and OF root.
At the beavers quick plunge. OF the anglers pur-
suit.
And ours are the mountains which awiuly rise,
Till they rest their green heads in the blue OF the
skies;
And ours are the forests unwasted, unshorn,
Save where the wild path Of tho tempest Is tom
Ana though savage and wild he this climate Of ours
And briei bo our season OF fruits and of flowers,
Far dearer tho blast round our mountains "hleh
raves.
Than the sxeet summer zephyr which breathes over
slaves.
Hurrah for VERMONT. Tor the land which We till
Must have sons 10 defend her from valley and hill
Leave tho harvest to rot the field where t grows
And the reaping oi wheat Tor the reapinS OF Toes
From Tar Michisquui wild valley, to where
Possoomsuck steals down from his woodcir'led iA-r
From shocticook river to Lutterlock town.
liO all TO the rescue Nermonters, com" down
Come York or CONS Hampshire, come traitors and
If ye rule DER our iand, 20 shall rule Ger our
graves
Our vo, is recorded. our banner uniurled.
ln thr name OF Vermont W. defy al The "orH'.
ala I.Gl, New York, by reason Of an extraoTd-
nary grant of Charles II. To tho Duke u York
claimed jurisdiction over about sixty townships.
of which grants had been given by the Governor ol
New IIampshire, declaring those grants Illegal. An
attempt was made I" dlspossoss the settlers, nut IL
was promptly resisted. In l7'i, New \ ork passeu
most despUic law against this resisting Nernunief''
and tire governor offered IL large reward Tor the ap
prehcnsion OF the celebrated Ethan Allen and ms
associates. In F59. Vermont declared ITS ihde-
pendcucs New York still urged her claims ana
attempted 10 enforce them with her militia In ~,
New Hampshire also laid claim To ia" whole state
ui vermont. Massachusetts, speedily followed, hy
putting in her claim tu about twO-thiTds oi ~ Con
gress, poweTlcss under the old Confederation IN
deavored to hrep ON good terms with all the parties
bot ardenty favored New York. Vermont romon-
strated warmly. Congress thTeatened vermont
published An Appeal To- the candid and impartial
World denounced tun.rt-s. and asserted IL own
absolute Iudcp.ndcucr, Nutwthst inding the
threats offered all sides the contest terminated
without much hlouished. so Vermont was ADMIT
tod into the Union IN 1871. after existing as ah lnho
pendent sovereignty for nearly fifteen years '-"H-
hams history Of friHOnf.
tliUn Sicsh,rh weaTc, GOvcrucr OF New llhmp'
shire.
iGnv. Clinton, Of New York, and Hon. A Ten
Brock, President uf the New York Convention.
Rather than Isil, will retlrr with ny hardy
Gucen Mountain n,s to tho desulaio caverns "l tho
mountains, and Wdgs WW Wifh hams nature al
Wge.'-EfhIH Ai'H's Ltfitr 10 COHg'1's, har'h -
Is-i
RUSSIAN 1EA-which is ordinary iced tea
with IA ntcno ,,t la,u,,, NJ nI p.t Al attnk in II