If Tam O'Shanter'd had a wheel, and other poems and sketches . closing, are together now. A troopers sabercuts his brother down, a gray clad armgrasps for the falling flag. There is a shot,a rain of blows, a deadly, hate-filled con-flict, hand to hand, and then a blinding,J^ torturous flash that hides the flag foreverW from his sight—but it is saved! Yes— Down with the traitorAnd up with the stars I The old man had risen to his feet and stood erectand soldier-like until the band passed by. He was poor,blind and helpless, but now no longer felt forgotten andalone. He settled down again, and soo
If Tam O'Shanter'd had a wheel, and other poems and sketches . closing, are together now. A troopers sabercuts his brother down, a gray clad armgrasps for the falling flag. There is a shot,a rain of blows, a deadly, hate-filled con-flict, hand to hand, and then a blinding,J^ torturous flash that hides the flag foreverW from his sight—but it is saved! Yes— Down with the traitorAnd up with the stars I The old man had risen to his feet and stood erectand soldier-like until the band passed by. He was poor,blind and helpless, but now no longer felt forgotten andalone. He settled down again, and soon the dews ofevening cooled his brow, and slowly, up above, unfurledthe starry banner of the firmament. The boys had broken ranks and hurried totheir room; and as one young fellow untied thetasseled bugle from his arm he raised it to hislips to sound tattoo— Blow out your lights, you lazy bummers,Blow out your lights and go to bed. The well-known strains rang clear, and as. WHEN THE BAND PLAYED. II9 the old man heard the notes his patient face shonewith a great content. The boys are all in camp, hemurmured, and soon well all be going home—goinghome. He laid his hands across his loyal heart and turnedhis face, a patriots countersign, up toward the watchfulsentinels of night. And in the morning, when some passer-by tried to awaken him, with kindly touch, he found thathe had answered to the heavenly reveille.
Size: 975px × 2564px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorboylangraceduffie1861, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890
