The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-03-16
AN IRISH SOLDIER TO COLUMBIA

He comes his poor respects to pay
In the good old democratic way,
And to bid you, on St. Patrick's day,
The very cream of the morning
He hopes, agra, that you will wear
Among the tresses of your hair,
Amid that nest of rosebuds there,
This emblem of his sire land.
Famed by soft winds. with heavenly
dew
Wet from fair skies of deepest blue.
This little sprig of shamrock grew
Near the very heart of Ireland.
You now have royal beaux. aroon,
To flock around you late and soon
Like stars around the summer moon,
Ourrivalling their glory.
But in the days when you were young
And sleuth hounds on your footsteps
hung,
And royal lovers gave them tongue.
Twas then a different story.
Then in your dark and evil days,
! Sure Ireland rose beyond the seas
! To back your thrones upsetting ways
In face Of rack and prison;
She gave you all she had ashore.
| Strong arms, true hearts, and love ga
lore,
And cheered you from her sea-beat
shore
Till all your stars had risen.
When duty called TO wars alarm
jack Barry took You in his arms
And smiled to see those budding
charms
On cold ST. Patricks morning.
He wrapped you in his flag. and said.
when thrones are crumbled. monarchs
dead
Among the stars you'll hold your head.
Their petty Kingdom scorning."
Montgomery was standing near
While on your pleased and listening
Rang Dragon Moylan's charging
cheer,
And the shamrock was adjoining
That curl-crowned head and brow Of
thine;
And along the continental line
That cheer was echoed nine times nine
On that wild st. st. Pauick's morn
ing.
You may forget these musty things
Which time has Swallowed with his
wings.
And yet from out those shadows
springs
Your highest. brightest glory.
When Jackson fought at New Orleans,
Beside him stood the Jasper Greens,
You were maiden "out of teens,
You can't for get the story.
Your ancient foe came up once more,
To trail you as in days of yore.
And you met him on that Southern
And dared that naughty foeman.
Then Jackson shook his banner free,
And swore, by the Eternal she
Shall hold her course DER land and sea
And cringe and stoop to no man."
Then. in your flush of womanhood
Sure Ireland's sons around YOU stood
And freely poured their warmest blood
For you, their second mother,
Where'er, in all your battles wide,
Where'er your own boy charged and
An Irishman was by his side
Like brother unto brother.
Though sundered in the public mart
You cannot tell their graves apart;
Two in race, but one in heart
For God and god-like freedom.
And if the dread occasion come,
And war clouds lower above your
home,
Lo. at the rattle of your drum
They're ready, should you need them |
The plant by sanity Patrick blest,
Was borne on many a knightly crest; |
Was worn on many queenly breast
And shone in golden tressses;
And he who 10 that emblem's true
Can ne'er be false, agra, to you,
Till the emerald fields wherein it grew,
Have turned to wilderness.
Now. bow your regal head while,
No wonder darling, that you smile,
For soldier of the rank and file
Has mighty awkward fingers.
But his faith is truer than an earl's,
His heart is gentler than girls.
His honor pure as your own pearls,
Don't blame him if he fingers
Amid that wealth of golden hair
To place old Ireland's shamrock fair;
May blacklist sorrow be his share
Who would these twain dare sever!
SO raise your head to all mems view,
Columbia while l drink to you:
The green. the red, and white and blue.
Forever and forever!
The Pilot:
Some people are like worthless team
Of horses-alWays have TO be helped
,-bao n co,,oeS IN milling. a load -,,nt1;Il