The Tupelo journal., 1913-06-06
Ballad of Betsy and the Flag.
nOuncement

Schools of America by Doctor Ed
ward Brooks, Late Superintendent
OF the Public Schools of Philadelphia.
Sing we the fame of Betsy Ross, whose
fingers. deft ard fair.
Made the first flag of stars and stripes
that fioated>on the air;
Her humble home still stands secure,
saved from the wrecks of time;
The birthplace of cold Glory; fair
freedoms sacred shrine.
The times were dark with gloom and
dread, for fierce the sovereign's hand
Was laid with ruthless tyranny upon a
happy land;
Her patriot sons had fallen on Con-
cords battle plain.
And the fair fields of Lexington were
sire wn with patriots slain.
Swift from the Northern battlefields
the news came flying down,
O 'er hill and plain, until it reached
this quiet Quaker town;
1t stirred the souls of peaceful men;
their hearts began to burn,
Lit by the fires of liberty, with strong
resolves and stern.
From field and forge, the patriots came
to heed their country's call;
Resolved their heaven-born rights to
save, or with their country fall;
Proudly they marched to fife and drum,
a noble band and brave;
No ghttering stars upon their breasts;
no flag Ger them to wave.
Their chieftain saw his country's need,
and with his own skilled hand
A symbol of the States combined, his
country's flag he planned;
The thirteen stripes, each for a State,
alternate red and white;
And thirteen stars on field of blue, a
constellation bright.
To Ross and Morris, patriot friends, he
showed the fair design,
And sought their counsel, asking where
a maker he could find;
II have a niece, named Betsy Ross, a
seamtress of are skill;
Her willing hands," said Colonel Ross,
''thy purpose will fulfill"
Il know her WE'LL" said Washington,
"a widow young and fair;
She makes the ruf1ed fronts a n d
sleeves that fashion bids US wear.
Wen go to Mistress Betsy Rcss"-it
was the chiefs command
"She'll make the nations flag that first
shall wave Ger freedoms land"
AS Betsy Ross n morning sat in quiet,
thoughtful mood,
Her mind upon the tasks that cheered
her pensive widowhood;
And dreaming of her country'swoe and
of the coming war,
She heard a step upon the street, a rap
upsp the door.
Quickly she rose and sought the door
and threw it open wide;
There stood the chieftain. Washington,
his two friends at his side.
With radiant face and throbbing heart
and graceful courtesy,
She babe them enter, with the thought,
What can their errand be-"
The chieftain bowed with grave respect
and proffered her his hand;
1--WE need a nations flag" he said,
showing what he had planned;
''Thlnk you a make a flag like this?''
With answer low and true.
Blushing, she modestly replied, "I'n
try what l can do"
She scanned the plan with questioning
eye, and then her thought expressed
''These stars l see six pointed are, FIVE
pointed stars are best"
A sheet of paper then she took, and,
folding it with care,
With a single clip of scissors, cut a true
fve-pointed star.
She placed it or the field of blue, with
modest mien and grace,
Then turned a timid questioning glance
upon the chieftain's face.
He gazed awhile, then smiled assent, a
goodly smile to see
And thus five-pointed stars adorn the
banner of the free.
Thus Betsy made the nations flag, the
flag of liberty;
The flag that led our armies in the
fight that made US free;
The flag that floats on every breeze. in
every land unfurled;
A beacon light of freedom to the ma
tions of the world.