The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-05-03
THE FIFER AND DRUMMER OF
SCITUATE.

A BALLAD.
founded on an incident of the War of 1872 I
ABBY, Abby, they're a-oomin'I'
who's a comin'i
What's to doY'
80, the British! an there amt u soul to home
Jobs gone courtin', Noah's a-fishin', all the
ncighbors be afar.
Peek; they re two great boat-loadS rOwin' for
our tour-ships at the bar
When they We took EN-, whats to bender? don't
you spose they'll come right down,
Pike an gum an blood an murder here, an
rob an burn the town."
"No. don't, not eff I'm spared-an don't you
have q chicken heart
lie me think, an then III tell ye; then we
both must play our part.
Becky, all we've ever got ter mind is, Just ter
do our best;
When that's done, we never need ter fear ter
leave ter God the rest.
Nobody can't die but once; an eff our own
turn comes to-day,
Let it find US at our dooty, an then find us
when it may.
Though their swelin' hearts he mighty
though each comes like ten times ten
Say your prayers, an jest remember English
men amt naught but men.
I'll run round an lock the house up; an you
scamper for your life
Up the garnet stairs an fetch us, to the barn,
~ the drum an fife,
Make believe we're the milishy comm. Girls
be go I'd as boys
EIor some things-folks needn't tell me-jest
as good ter make noise"
Becky scampers. Abby makes fast door and
window breathessy,
In her hurry puts the kitten in her pocket
with the key,
Calls the dog, and drives the COW in from her
grazing inthc croft
To her stall and, dragging Becky, Scrambles
up into the loft,
Opens wide the great barn window, seizes on
her fathers drum,
Cries; You keep the fife, dear Becky-that's
right-sound like kingdom come
Think you've got the trump that Gideon blew
against the heather host,
When the Lords sword conquered INDIAN
an their princes heads were lost.
Won't the British lose their heads, tool
Mebbe eff we keep our own
While she chatters, she is drumming, till the
grumbling roof doth groan.
''Yaukee Doodle" "Hail, Columbia" pealed
with many deafening bout;
Like cherub's on tombstone, Becky's
dimpled cheeks pulled out.
Abby's hazel eyes flashed lightning, as her
rapid sticks she piled.
Marching stifl, and counter-marching to and
fro, from side to side
Der the soft gray hills and valleys of the
clover-scented hay,
Sounding like an army coming up and down
from far away,
Now through rich brown shadows went they
lively, lovely Yankee girls
Now an elm let stealthy sunlight in on fair
and chestnut curls.
Filing drumming, painting, stumbling, nalf in
fear and half in fun,
When they dared to reconnOitre, then they
saw the British run.
"Now the 'Rogue's March, little sister
louder lOuder let us play
One more poorly piece o music, jest ter speed
EN- on their way"
When the sunsets gold and amber, wrought
upon the cobwebbed gloom
OF the straw-hung old barn-chamber, made it
seem tapestried room,
And their tOwnsmen came, each rafter DER
each little merry head
Rang with peas of girliSh laughter az the
pair looked down and said
brother, father, uncle, welcome; but a little
late you've come!
Now the fiour-ship would be taken but for us,
an fife an drum"
Straght men knew the situation, ran the
rescued ships to see,
Thronged the barnyard then, and, shouting,
gave the damsels three times three!'
Wild with mirth; and ever after, oft as gen
eral trainingday
Called the gallant lads of Scituate from the
scythe and forge away,
Meath the farmhouse sunset windows, fife
and drum were duly played
To those gallant maids of Scituate, in me-
mortal Serenade.
5. II. Pdlfrey, in Boston Transcript.