31. the United States flag--1861. inscribed to S. P. Russell, Esq.
by William Ross Wallace.
（As read by John Keynton, Esq., at the great Union Meeting at Yorkville, N. Y. Flag of the valiant and the tried,Where Marion fought and Warren died!
Flag of the mountain and the lake!
Of rivers rolling to the sea
In that broad grandeur fit to make
The symbols of Eternity 1
O fairest Flag! O dearest Land!
Who shall your banded children sever?
God of our fathers! here we stand,
A true, a free, a fearless band,
Heart pressed to heart, hand linked in hand,
And swear that Flag shall float forever!
Still glorious Banner of the Free!
The nations turn with hope to thee:
And when thy mighty shadow falls
Along the armory's trophied walls,
The ancient trumpets long for breath;
The dinted sabres fiercely start
To vengeance from each clanging sheath,
As if they sought some traitor's heart
O sacred Banner of the Brave!
O standard of ten thousand ships!
O guardian of Mount Vernon's grave!
Come, let us press thee to our lips!--
There is a heaving of the rocks--
New England feels the patriot-shocks;
There is a heaving of the lakes--
New York, with all the West, awakes;
And, lo! on high the glorious shade
Of Washington lights all the gloom,
And points unto these words, arrayed
In fire around his tomb--
“Americans! Your fathers shed
their blood to rear the Union's1 fame;
For this that fearless Banner spread
On many a gory plain!
Americans! let no one dare,
On mountain, valley, prairie, flood,
By hurling down that Temple there,
To desecrate that blood
The Right shall live, while Faction dies!
All traitors draw a fleeting breath!
But Patriots drink, from God's own eyes,
Truth's light that conquers Death!” [19]
Then, dearest Flag, and dearest Land!
Who shall your banded children sever?
God of our fathers! here we stand,
A true, a free, a fearless band,
Heart pressed to heart, hand linked in hand,
and swear that flag shall float forever!
--N. Y. Dispatch.
