143. war song.
by T. P. Rossiter.
Come, rally round our altar;No true heart now will falter,
When battles for our freedom are to be fought and won;
Come, father, son, and brother,
Leave sister, wife, and mother;
There's work for strong arms doing, nor peace until 'tis done.
chorus — For equal right
We only fight,
But while we breathe we will be free.
When our dear land
Our lives demands,
Die shouting, “God and liberty.”
[119] List how the drums are beating,
Their echoing tones repeating,
Come, rally! ho! come, rally, our hearths and homes to save;
The blood our good sires left us,
Though all else were bereft us,
Is heritage sufficient to keep from coward's grave.
Come, flock around our standard;
Come, crowd into the vanguard,
The beacons blazing brightly upon the hillsides show
There's need of arms united,
With hearts for daring plighted,
To grapple in the death-grip which hellward hurls a foe.
On our unguarded borders
Throng hordes of fell marauders;
And our old flag base miscreants insultingly would seize.
Still Stars and Stripes are streaming,
Thank God, in glory gleaming,
And patriot thrills are stirring as it flutters in the breeze.
Our country now would prove us,
While floats our flag above us,
Undaunted we'll give battle, nor drop the blade or brand,
Till all in place and station
Are loyal to the nation;
Till enemies and traitors are driven from the land.
Leave shuttle, quit the harrow,
Bring from the mines strong marrow--
Leave anvil, plane, and compass, as the tocsin sounds alarm;
Leave mills and shops untended,
Leave books with tasks unended,
That wives and weans may nestle securely from all harm.
Come, old, from the desk and study;
Come, youth, with brawn arms ruddy;
Come, rally! ho! come, rally, for each altar, home, and hearth.
Our vows to each now plighting,
In life and death uniting,
For Union we inherited-God-given at our birth.
--N. Y. Evening Post, June 8.
