But, hark! What hurried rider, this, With jaded horse and garb amiss, Whose look some woe proclaims, Ere he his mission names? He rides amain from far-off Lexington, And tells the blood-red news of war begun! Then Brevard, Balch, and Kennon spoke The wise bold words that aye invoke Men to defend the right And scorn the despot's might; Until from all there rose the answering cry: "We will be independent, or we die." When Alexander called the vote, No dastard "nay's" discordant note Broke on that holy air-- For dastard none was there! But in prompt answer to their country's call, They pledged life, fortune, sacred honor--all! In solemn hush the people heard; With shout and cheer they caught the word: Independence! In that sign We grasp our right divine; For the tyrant's might and the traitor's hate Must yield to men who fight for God and State! The hero shout flew on the breeze; Rushed from the mountains to the seas; Till all the land uprose, Their faces to their foes, Shook off the thraldom they so long had borne, And swore the oath that Mecklenburg had sworn! And well those men maintained the right; They kept the faith, and fought the fight; Till Might and Treason both Fled fast before the oath Which brought the God of Freedom's battles down To place on patriot brows the victor's crown! WILLIAM C. ELAM. Up and down the land, in every city, town, and hamlet, men were drilling--with brooms and corn-stalks, when no muskets were available. The storm, which had been gathering for years, had burst at last. A SONG Hark! 'tis Freedom that calls, come, patriots, awake! To arms, my brave boys, and away: 'Tis Honor, 'tis Virtue, 'tis Liberty calls, And upbraids the too tedious delay. What pleasure we find in pursuing our foes, Thro' blood and thro' carnage we'll fly; Then follow, we'll soon overtake them, huzza! The tyrants are seized on, they die! Triumphant returning with Freedom secur'd, Like men, we'll be joyful and gay-- With our wives and our friends, we'll sport, love, and drink, And lose the fatigues of the day. 'Tis freedom alone gives a relish to mirth, But oppression all happiness sours; It will smooth life's dull passage, 'twill slope the descent, And strew the way over with flowers. _Pennsylvania Journal_, May 31, 1775. CHAPTER III THE COLONISTS TAKE THE OFFENSIVE