Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-31

Dlue Dlack smoke DiOWS over! The red-coats stretched i'll windrows as
 the mower rakes his hay; Here a scarlet heap is lying; there
 headlong crowd is flying Like a pillow that is broken and is
 shiVered into spray.
 Then we cried, 'The troops are routed! They are beat, it can't be doubted! God be thanked the fight is over-Ah,
 the grim old soldiers smile; Tell us, tell us why you look so? eve
 could hardly speak, We shook so) Are they beaten? Are they beaten? Are
 they beaten? Wait awhile Oh the trembling and the terror! For
 too soon we saw our error; They are baf1ed, not defeated; we have
 driven them back in vain; And the columns that were scattered, round the colors that were tattered; Towards the sullen, silent fortress turn
 their belted breasts again. All at once, as we are gazing, To, the
 roofs of Charlestown blazing! They have fired the harmless village;
 in an hour it will be down! The Lord in heaven confound them;
 rain his fire and birthstone
 round them
 The robbing, murdering red-coats, that
 would burn q peaceful town. They are marching stern and solemn,
 we can see each massive column As they near the naked earth mound,
 with the slanting walls so steep; Have our soldiers got tainted hearted,
 and in noiseless haste departed? A iae e.fT 11nI ra
 they palsied or asleep? Now the walls they're almost under;
 scarce rod they lie asunder; Not firelock flashed against them; up
 the earthwork they will swarm! But the words have scarce been spoken when the ominous calm is broken, And believing crash has emptied all
 vengeance of the storm. So again with murderous slaughter
 pelted backwards to the water, Fly Pigot's running heroes and the
 frightened braves of Howe And we shout at last they're done for; it's their barges they have run for; They are beaten, beaten, beaten; and
 the battles over now.
 And we looked poor timid creatures, Oh I11S 1OuSn OlU SO101cI 5 1edIuIGS, Our lips afraid to question, but he knew
 what we would ask;
 Not sure he said; "Keep quiet; once
 more, I guess they'll try it Here's damnation to the cut-throats!"
 then he handed me his flask; Saying: Gal, you're looking shaky;
 have drop of old jamaiky; I'm afraid there'l be more trouble
 afore the job is done" So I took one scorching swallow;
 dreadful faint felt and hollow; Standing here from early morning
 when the firing was begun. All through the hours of trial had
 watched a calm clock dial, As the hands were creeping, creeping,
 they were creeping up to four When the old man said they're forming
 with their bayonets fixed for
 storming;
 It's the death-grip that's a-coming- they will try the works once more. With brazen. trumjets blaring, the
 flames behind them glaring, The deadly wall before them, in close
 array they come;
 Still onward, upward toiling, like
 dragons fold uncoiling- Like the rattlesnake's shrill warning
 the reyerberating drum, Over heaps all torn and gory-shall I
 tell the fearful story,
 How they surged above the breastwork
 as a sea breaks OCT deck, How driven, yet scarce defeated, our
 wornout men retreated, With their powder horns all emptied,
 like the swimmers from a wreck. It has all been told and painted; as for
 me they say I tainted, And the wooden-legged old corporal
 stumped with me down the stair, And when woke from dreams alright ed, the evening lamps were lighted, On the floor a youth was lying; his
 bleeding breast was bare. And I heard through all the furry, "Send for Warren, hurry. hurry, Tell him there's a soldier bleeding, and
 he'll come and dress his wound!'' Ah, he knew not till the morrow told
 tale of death and sorrow. How the starlight found him stfffened
 on the dark and bloody ground. Who the youth was, what his name
 was, where the place from
 which he came was,
 Who had brought him from the battle,
 and had left him at our door, He could not speak to tell us; but twas
 one of our brave fellows, As the honiespun plainly showed US
 which the dying soldier wore. For they all thought he was dying. as they gathered around him crying. And they said, "Oh how they'll miss himl and what will his mother do?'' Then his eyelids just unclosing like a
 child's that has been dozing. He faintly murmered, ..Motherr'-and
 -I saw his eyes were blue. Why grandma, how you're winking-
 An, my child, it sets me thinking Of story not like this one We'll, he
 somehow lived along, So we come to know each other, and I nursed him like q mother, Till at last he stood before me, tall and
 rosy-cheeked and strong. And we sometimes walked together in
 the pleasant summer weather, Please to tell us what his name was
 just your own, my little dear There's his picture. Copely painted; we became so well acquainted, That, in short, that's why I'm grandma
 and you children all are here!