With gratitude our hearts are filled For the triumphs of our nation, We’ll not forget good blood was spilled In fighting for its salvation; We love our country and our flag, And know not how to amend it, And when it calls we will not lag In rallying to defend it. O how it inspires one to hear, When passing by upon the street, The children sing in school house near, “Forever float that standard sheet,” And changing time to music true “The star spangled banner shall wave,” Following with “Red, white and blue,” And cheers for the flag of the brave. In many nations of the earth, Where kings and other tyrants rule, The people’s rights are little worth, Until they learn from freedom’s school; But monarchs now are growing wise, And hearts rejoice o’er all the world, As freedom’s fires light the skies, Where’er our noble flag’s unfurled. For justice and for liberty, Our country is the champion, We’ll advocate humanity, Where’er man’s rights are trampled on; In quiet peace we aim to live, Avoiding war whene’er we can, But life and gold we’ll freely give To help our suff’ring fellowman. There is no nation that we fear However skilled in war or arts, We need no standing army here, Our bulwark’s made of human hearts; We have no lords, no king to crown, But mindful of the bitter past, We’ve anchored all our virtues down, And nailed our banner to the mast. Respected now o’er all the earth, In ev’ry country great and small, The flag that crowned our nation’s birth, Floats proudly with the best of all: And now from school house top it flies, And on all ships we send to sea, The grandest flag beneath the skies, The glorious flag of liberty. THE FLAG OF HOBSON’S CHOICE. A SONG. Written June 10th, 1898, to commemorate in verse the great achievement of Richard P. Hobson and his crew of seven men, in sinking the steamer “Merrimac,” in the mouth of Santiago harbor, island of Cuba, under orders of Admiral Sampson. When Hobson saw his country’s need, Demanded human sacrifice, He asked that he might do the deed, And give his life to pay the price. CHORUS. Three cheers now, boys, for liberty, Three cheers again in louder voice, For Hobson and his victory, And for the flag of Hobson’s choice. He knew the course that he must take Would lead him to the mouth of hell, And boldly for his country’s sake, He braved the storm of shot and shell. He knew that mines beset the place, Where he must go to sink his ship, And death would meet him face to face, Ere he had time to make the trip.