Omaha daily bee., 1910-08-14
The WaYSide

would not obey. But just then one OF the
nute-men--probably through excitement
in disregard OF Captain Parker's order,
raised his gun and snapped 1t at the British.
The flint struck the. steel and the powder
flashed British soldier saw it, he also
saw his major turn to give an order and
Just as much excited as the m.nute-man,
he aimed and fired 4 few others fired,
but no one being hurt the Americans sup
posed the guns were loaded with blank
cartridges and that the affair was Just to
frighten them. But British blood was
aroused and though Pitcairn struck his
staff into the ground as an order to stop
firing, there was general discharge. The
musket balls plowed into the rebels ranks
and now one and now another Of that
heroic band sank beneath British bullets.
Up the street came the tramp OF the main
body Of grenadiers marching 10 the support
OF their commanders. Eight hundred
against seventy was unequal odds. The
minute-men had done what they were as
sembled to do; they had made their protest
and with a few scattering shots in reply
they dispersed. The British let fly another
broadside and with a cheer of victory
marched on to Concord
1t is sometimes hard to remake surround
ings, but in this case, although the town
has been filled with houses, the roads
leveled, and the common made into a
beautiful lawn, we looked upon some of the
very witnesses Of that famous fight. We
saw the tongue of the bell that rang out
the summons in the meeting house belfry
and the queer old belfrey still stands on
the hin. Eight of the forty houses then
standing are there stiii, among them the
tavern where the colonists bore their
wounded; the one to which jamaican Har-
rington, shot down by British bullets,
dragged himself only to die on the door
step at his wife's feet; the house toward
which young Caleb Harrington was rum
ming with powder from the church when
he was shot down: the old parsonage,
where Samuel Adams and John Hancock
were sleeping when aroused by Paul Re-
we're, April II. IT'S
Do you recall that stirring poem on
Lexington by Oliver Wendell Holmes? 1
am sure had you been with us on this
trip you would have been thrilled as we
were when one OF our number reeited it:
Slowly the mist DER the meadow was
Bright on the dewey buds glistened the
sum-
When from his couch. while his children
were sleeping,
Rose the bold rebel and shouldercd his
Waving her golden veil
over the silent dale.
Blithe looked the morning on cottage and
spire;
flushed was his parting sigh,
While from his noble eye
Flashed the last sparkle OF liberty's fire.
on the smooth green where the fresh leaf
is springing
Calmly the first-born Of glory have met.
Harki the death-volley around them is
Look With their nfe-blood the young
Faint is the feeble breath.
Murmuring low In death
Tell to our sons how their fathers have
Nerveless the iron hand.
Raised for its native land,
Lies by the weapon that CLEANS at it's
side.
Over the hillside the wild knell Is toiling.
From their far hamlets the yeomanry
come;
As through the storm-clouds the thunder
burst rolling.
Circles the heat OF the mastering drum.
Fast on the soldiers path,
Darker the waves ofNvrath: N
Long have they gathered and loud shall
Red glares the muskets flash,
sharp rings the rifles crash
Blazing and changing from thicket and
wall.
Green be the graves where her martyrs
shrsudless and tombless they sunk to
While Ger their ashes rhe starry fold
flying
Wraps the proud eagle they reused from
his nest
Long Ger the foaming brine
Spread the broad banner 10 storm and 70
sun;