The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-06-20

: The Flag Lowered :

When the British left our shores Mt
the close OF the Revolution, they left
flying one royal flag which, as they had
nailed 1t to the ilagpole, they fondly.
hoped would continue to kiss the
brce2es for some time to come.
At the foot of famous Broadway
stood Fort George, named for the Brit
lsh king, aud from It's tall staff iloated
the flag which the enemy had left be
hind.
1t Tapped in the breeze of that No
vember day In Il manner quite dis
tasteful TO the Americans who had
seen ii waving there for almost seven
years.
1t must come down. But how? The
patriots did not want to destroy the
tall flagstaff, for they wished TO hoist
upon II another flag which should rep
resent The newest republic on the face
of the globe, and SO they gathered
about the staff as they suggested
means for lowering the British flag.
The English vessels were vanishing
down the Narrows, and their white
sails would soon disappear, but there
In the wind waved the flag they had
left behind bidding defiance TO their
eonquerors, and saying In mute Ian
gnage that. though the colonies were
free the emblem of a king still remain
ed To disturb them.
II believe could climb that pole"
said boy who stood looking nj The
flag.
An American officer, oyerhearlng
thesn words. turned and gave him
IooI, of ostonIshmrnt
"You dor" said the officer "Do Won
renllv think Won could climb TINT flag
staff and icar the banner Ioese?"
a could trv ANYHOW"
"IJcre serpeont tnko this how over
- ~ -,
10 'cnsla' NhoN "iio i,'t ni'' '''i nun
VIM ne 'nl'iNs Nv t'' w.
me serseohe '"oh 'o'ih's "n AIS,
uale To tue Eeiie'"' ne"o'l""'''is anu
sal,,ou'
ms boy says ne eaa ciii,io we "'s
s'alt anu 't'noNe ''e nl'''sn ''"s'
rue knu ia'e OF MUM was ni"-
over from neaa ~ ieot anu sa'u'
gu look as''e' 10Y 10" i"Ne
ellIlhea h'lpie, nave yo"t
hes' SIT fel'ied 1oh'lhA, piushlhb'
II YOU Nouia ~ me ''S " 'the 'he
mig aoNii Nouu no my pes''
lou sia'i ny anu 70" iooh '"i'apio
OF doi1s IT, ahu WIN "ho'he' sn,u'o
the hiiBtHul NlNHuIfN uHtl iiluiNltNi
me deilsh'cd BOY DUCK =" Tue l'"'auc
GROUND.
ne crow" s"t,'o''' "pou' '''o '''s
s'a'i 'ooh', III Tue pos "n" SUN ""-
ueIS,"ou N""t WIS up si'"' iiahs
81 tle'h hheW hl'h' anu not IL"
hne" no" "b''e ne WIS
wv guy n,' VIC "ep'i,'ns n'.,'ai
ii"nou '".i' iah w wv po'e, oue ny
| thn siam sn os tn make if hard TO climb.
Johnny Van Ars,lale went TO work.
He had brought with him lot OF sand.
and bv mailing back fine clents and an
plying fine sand To the sllcl, pole he
managed to climb M hand over hand
amid the cheers of the people,
Az he nrarcd the ton of the tall flag
pole II strange hush seemed TO fall over
the crowd below. 1t was expectation
moi altogether unmingled with fear.
TLear were those who feared that
even should he reach the top his hands
would not be strong enough to tear the
Hats loose. but the little patriot perse-
vercd until he could touch the ensign.
Look! lie IS up now" said a voice
far brnealh him. lie has caught hold
of the flag. lie IL tearing 1t loose!
There. sec how IL yields! He viii ne
eompllsh his Burposep'
Ito worked with n will. watched all
thc time by those on the ground, and
when they saw that he had wrapped
| the standard around his body and had
started ,luon HIS descent n great cheer
| arose from every throat
Lander finn eyer vaa the cheer that
rent tho mir when tl,e Triumphant boy
roocbed fine prouud and puwrapped
frnn, hla hody fine wind torn banner
which no lind sccurnd
81 toId tbc concral / Thought | could