Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-08


And a dish OF terrapin,
She as Juicy as reed bird,
He the rail bird, odd and thin.
Like the marshes in the summer
How they twittered futtering,
Aud what scoldlng he took from her
On her poor. abused king,
''Thee Rodney, thee Cesar,
And thy cousin In the fleet, "a
To be leading ragged rebels
And she stamped her pretty feet.
Then she drew her dark eyes nearer,
smoothed his silk patch with her hand,
5 i'd he was the only rebel
She could pardon in the land;
And his glass che filled moreover,
Aud her maid was fresh 10 see,
And they held this soldier rover,
In u soft captivity.
Fast the days of June were passing;
Scarce he knew II was July,
For the counting and the CHASING,
And the twinkle In her eye.
All his couriers and dispatches
Ceased, and In the pleased suspense,
Naught was said OF Philadelphia
And the public consequence
Joshua Fisher and the Quakers,
Dropping In with velvet paws,
Brought bottle or II chicken,
Blhnu n 10 DrOtnef-iI-luN
"Tarry thee. friend Rodney, worthy:
For we need Thy counsel more,
Neither news nor friends come for thee,
Congress sits with guarded door"
"Why II John Mexican 80 silent?
IL he sick? Am forgot?
He who wrote so full aud often,
Whether there was news or not.n
Uleopatra's white arms branching
Held his will within their Gasp,
Saying Caesar, II thee leaves me,
must die without an asp"
But one evening ere the candles
Lit the parlor, tr,pped her maid
Through the dusk on noiseess sandals,
And In Rodney's arms was laid:
s. Nay" she cried, "tis not my mistress,
Nor one of her tory school:
I'm good Wing girl of Sussex,
You are Sarah Rowland's fool.
I. Post and riders are Kept from you,
.est the truth they might declare:
Congress votes on Independence,
There's tie in Delawarel
On July the fourth, the country
Must It's preference avow,
And our State Is lost without You;
Tis July the third, sir, now ~
With cry OF pain the General
Showered his kisses on the Jade:
Thou canst save a Rodney's honor,
BLESSINGS on thee Sussex maid.
Where's my horse?" Here. ready saddlcd,
Here your pistols, hero your flask
WIN hundred miles before you,
All night gallop be your task ~
Down the bcach-road, past the shingled
Homes of Lewes, Rodney spurred,
Past the small old ai and Court house
In the starlight flashed his sword
With one glance upon the ocean
To the north star turned his way
Sarah Rowland saw and muttered:
"He will miss II by day |"
Twenty hours to Philadelphia (s)
Equalled swiftest courier's powers
Congress met at noon, and Rodney
Had one horse and sixteen hours:
Two 10 Cedar Greek produced him
iasets dogs harked rs he passed (g)
Then, warmed up. his good steed loOsed him,
And through Camden winged him fast.
One O'Clock, az cock-Crow reckoned,
Jenes's creek had come and gone
Rodney bridled horse the second,
Changed the saddle, and went on
Not q soul at home esped him;
All In silence Dover lay:
Who comes there?" the sentry challenged
"Gencral Rodney: clear the way 7"
At Duck Greek cross roads the grey light
From the Jerseys rose in wonder;
Cantwells Bridge at clearer daylight
Sounded to his hoop of thunder;
And old Drawers church pAnes culver
In the marshes. az II knew him;
And New Castle by the river,
Bent lis old brick gables 10 him.
Seven O'Clock at Wilmington-tOwn,
Landlord heard his voice incitenlng:
q Rum and sugar ami a biscuit.
And another hOrse, like lightniugl'
Folks GU Brandywlne aud Nuanan
Saw his green patch, soulr tn mock it,
Like another Add HI Ramon,
And green banner OF the Prophet.
Noon approached at Philadelphia,
Aud In queues, cooked hats. and breeches
One by one went in the MEMBERS
Some with scrnples, some with speeches;
On the State House steps awaited ~
John Mexican his friend decrcpit.
With his big square nose inflated
And his mighty soll intrepid:
:. Read is skulking, Dickinson is (O)
With cOncet and fright our foeluan,
Welded to his quaker monies,"
Mused the grim old Rebel Roman;
% pennsylvania spoiled by faction
Independence will not dare;
Mary land approves the ACTION
Shall we TAIL on Delaware ~
III the tower the old bell mumblcd
Striking slowly twelve o'clock
Down the street hot horse stumbled,
And man in riding irock,
with green patch on his visage,
And his garments white with CRIME.
" Now praise Godl" Mexican spoke grimly,
"Crsar Rodney IL on limc.''
Silent hand in hand together, ..
Walked they In the great square hall;
To the roll with 'Aye' responded,
At the clerks immortal call;
LISTENED TO the Declaration
From the steeple TO the air.
" Here this day il made Nation,
BY the help Of Delawarel |" (l1)
Joshua Fisher congress banished
To Virginia. where the journal
Told, III time, that Sarah Rowland
Wed captive British Colonel; -#
But she kept the same Madeira,
| Which posteritv endorses
Though 4 made her lovers tarry,
Mighty jalop for their horses. (12)
REnoBorH. July 2, 1880.
| Enllnui.,.. ILn aal:,.- - A. IL