The Northwestern standard., 1886-04-03
ORANGE AND GREEN
BY GERALD GRIFFIN.

BY GERALD GRIFFIN
srhe night was falling dreary i'll merry Bandon
wien in his cottage weary an orangeman lay
The summer sun in splendor had set upon the
Ana shouts Of mo surrender arose upon the
2 gale.
Resides the waters, LAYING the feet Of aged
trees,
The Orange banners waving, aew boldly in the
breeze;
IN mighty chorus meeting. a hundred voices
join,
And ffe and drum were beating the Battle of
the Boyne.'
IA, towards his cottage hieing, what form is
speeding now,
From yonder thicket flying, with blood upon
his brow?
ssHide, hide me, worthy stranger, though
Green my color be,
And in the day Of danger may heaven renena-
Der thee?
I'm yonder vale, contending alone against shat
crew,
slew.
Harki hear that fearful warning Anere .
death in every tone!
s oh, save my life till morning, ana heaven pro-
long your own
The Orange heart was melted IN pity to the
Green,
he heard the tale and felo 1t, his very SOU
within.
,.Dread not that angry warning, though death
be in its tone;
I'll save your life till morning, or viii lose my
own"
Now, round his lonely dwelling the angry tor
rent pressed,
A hundred voices swelling the Orangcman adj
dressed:
.sArise, arise, and follow the chase along the
plain
In yonder stony hollow your only son is slain.
With rising shouts they gather upon the track
amain,
And leave the childless father aghast with sud-
den pain.
He seeks the trighted stranger in covert where
he lay;
.Arise!'' he said; "all danger is gone and
passed awayl
ssI had son--one only, one loved as my life.
Thy hand has left me lonely in that accursed
strife.
I pledged my word to save thee until the
storm should cease;
keep the pledge gave thee Arise, ana go
in peace"
The stranger soon departed from thatunhappy
vale;
The father, broken-hearted, lay broodng DER
the tale.
Full twenty summers after to silver turned his
beard;
And yet the sound of laughter from him was
never heard
The night was falling weary in merry Wexford
When in his cabin weary peasant laid him
down;
And many voice was singing along the sum-
mer vale,
And Wexford town was ringing with shouts OF
'Granua Uile."
Beside the waters, laving the feet of aged
trees,
The green flag, gayly waving, was spread
against the breeze.
In mighty chorus meeting, loud voices filed
the town,
And fife aud drum were beating, Down,
Orangeman, lie down.
Hark mid the stirring clangor that woke the
echoes there,
Loud voices, high in anger rise on the evening
air.
Like billows of the ocean, he sees them hurry
And, mid the wild commotion an orangeman
alone.
.sbly hair he said, lis hoary, and feeble is my
hand,
And 1 could tell a story weuld shame your
cruel band.
Fun twenty years and over have changed my
heart and brow,
Aud am grown lover of peace and concord
now.
at was not thus greeted your brother of the
When, fainting and defeated freely took him
pledged my word to save him from the ven |
geance rushing on;
kept the pledge gave him, though he had
killed my son.
That aged peasaut heard him, and knew him as |
he stood;
Remembranees kindly stirred him, and tender |
gratitude.
With gushing tears of pleasure, he pierced the |
listening train
..Tm here to pay the measure Of Kindness back
againn'
Upon his bosom falling, the old mans tears
came down,
Deep memory recalling that cot an I fatal town: I
..The hand that would offend thee my being /
first shall end;
.'Tm living to defend thee, my savior and my |
friend !"
he said, and, slowly turning, addressed the I
wondering crowd;
With fervent spirit burning, he told the tale I
aloud.
Now pressed the warm beholders their aged Zoe /
20 greet
They raised him on their shoulders and chaired |
him through the street.
AS he had saved that stranger from peril