Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-03-06


Come with every drop of blood
Ready to water Freedoms bud !"
Thus he cried to Virginia's sons
Out came horses, out came guns;
Women said Co" and women kissed
Never man at the call was missed.
Warm blood leaped; brave men were
strong,
Answering the cry and joining the
throng,
Gathering from hall and cabin bring
Their lives to pledge at Morgan's Spring,
There was no name for its crystal then;
Itnow shrines ''Morgan's Minute-Men -
Grateful hearts to its waters bow,
And murmur thanks for that solemn
vow.)
Stern were the faces, and coarse were
the coats,
Yet words lost their way in quivering
throats;
Hands wrung hands in quick goodbye;
Many a tear came to many an eye
To backward go with cruel thrill;
For women had bid their hearts be still,
Husband, wife, maid and every one
Knew but one duty, and it was done.
Prayers went up; men knelt them down
And swore to ride to Boston Town;
To help their brethren-far away
Who dared to open Freedoms Day.
Some one said-of the gathering there
mo one asks his life to spare;
But, if it pleaseth Freedoms God
To keep few above the sod,
Let us-hfty years from this
Swear to come and greet with kiss
Each other, and the sod we've won;
And hope natiou'S benson"
Sabres sprang out and ramrods rang,
Crossing in mid with clang
True as the sound of steel's sharp ring
Was that oath that day at Morgan's
Spring.
The rider went on to carry the cry
South Of Potomac murmuring nigh.
North rode the men in an eager horde
Splashing, dashing Potomac's ford
Riding valley and mountain crown
In a bee-line for Boston Town.
One hundred and twenty Virginia men,
You wreathed your brows with glory
then
Had the battle gone, and the land been
lost,
You offered yourselves as holocaust
Time, as it rings through its corridors,
Has hailed you DER men emperors
Oh, what a sight in the morning sun
Gladdened the face Of Washington
Dust-clad, weary with sabre and ball,
Came the Minute Men" one and all,
From nigh six hundred miles away
Each man a life to spend in the fray
And stood in line as the chief rode down,
And asked, whence came you to Cam
bridge TOWN.
Morgan reported, with soldiers pride;
owe came from Potomac's southern
side"
Down from his horse the chieftain came,
Nor said word, nor asked a name;
But grasped each hand with hearty
grip,
Greeted each look with trembling lip;
His tongue was speechless with glad sur
prise;
Joy flew straight from his heart and eyes;
Yet down his cheek ran silent tears
To welcome Liberty's Pioneers.
They thought of their homes, Of their
stern farewell,
Here were tears. oh, who can tell
What heaved the breasts of the Minute
Men !"
How soft or stout their hearts were then
Passing years tore a naked land;
War singed it clean with a scorching
hand;
But the men who saw the tears that
Never WINGED when fighting, or starving
or torn.
A nation sprang up. A flag few OUT
Freedom was born; and glorious shout
Went up from the earth that a cause
was won
The work of heroes was done; we'll done.
Back to the cabin, and back to the hall,
Struggled the few to tell Of the fall
OF the many brave ones who swore that
day
To lot with their brethren, far away.
Then women wept; but not till then,
Now, their cause was the cause Of the 81
lent men.
When time has fifty years unwound,
Steps are heard on hallowed ground
And three old men together cling,
Tokeep their oath-at Morgan's Spring.
-CharleS McHvaine { (706e Hodge,