The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-02-22
HIS LAB0RS ENDED
Peoples Acclaim of Washington
as Their Hero Journeyed
to Annapolis to Lay
Down His Sword.

1oA
tablet at Severn Cross Roads, where
Washington passed on his way to resign
his commission at Annapolis.l
@HIS roadside sings again to-
I day
Here where the barren
branches sauay
And keen December winds sweep by
Beneath a cold and azure sky
The old road echoes to some tread
OF morning in a Uanished hour
When here the red-ch eeked courier
sped,
And here the young lands pride and
fower
OF glory and achievement came
To add fresh glory to his name.
The villages had all come out,
To hear the news, to match about
To catch some glimpse far up the
way
OF Washington-who from the fray,
And from the council and the crest,
Was riding down his sword to lay
Once more upon his countrys
/ breast
While he stepped back to that street.
rest
He yearned for. Yonder sounds a
call!
a buqle's note, nuayhap the fall
Of horse-hoofs ON the old State
road
From eUery hamlet and abode
Men, women, children, harry forth:
The 1uind is sweet, though west by
north,
and keen NTH that sharp chill that
When on the hill the partridge
drums.
Th;x way they look, this way and
= that!
$ They'll know him by his coat and
hat;
.. They've seen his face in pictures, so
. There 'front.' be any doubt they'll
l know;
e But deep within their hearts they
: sigh
. They'll know him by his fortnight
= eye,
D His noble mien, his lofty frame,
= His fitting in Nth road and iy
As nature fits all great forms D.
y Ind signs the portrait witi her
S name.
;: The young folk chatter. sm's and
= grin.
= The old are prone to be severe
g And stretch each vortice of t ear
:. To catch that first sharp d ing
I sound
Of the stage coach thtindein Pr its
way,
The hoof-beat on the frozen J ound
That knows the kind of tame to play.
l Some IN smaH groups tod ether
draWn
Wait on the green bench of al awn,
Z And these-in somevise mol Sc
date
The wisdom of his act debate.
One rises who defends the stres
Of his great land, and vows With ire
: IT'S only a great mans way, indeed,
To give up lofty place, secede
From honors of such high degree,
D Putting ambition aside, and fame.
d Upon the altar Whence they came
His country's heart-and stepping
e down
From all the lure of high renown,
Il Take his old place in life again,
, One Nth all kindred gentlemeni
:, Some tell the story of his trip,
While others bark Nth hanging
t lip
That parting at old Frances inn
With those Who'd been his aids at
n Tears in his eyes, and in his heart
That aching that they feel uho part
). With comrades and with friends
n who've spent
:. Hours Nth them in the battlement
, Of life, of fate, of hopes and dreams,
d And brave adventurings long before.
Then to the barge they see him go
e At Whitehall Ferry, bowing lou
= In all that stately form of grace
At each bowed head and tear-stained
n face.
= And then that silent, street adieu
= At Paulus Hook-sad words and
II feW,
silent wauing of the hand
e Back to his high and faithful band,
= Then Nth his face set hither-
strong
In the high purpose he had made
To heed no imploring of the throng
< But lay at his countrys feet his
g blade.
g Then the triumphant jaunt begun
It Those days Of journeying IN the sun;
r The plQudits of nations best