The citizens of the town were now some of them gathering in small groups outside of their doors to enjoy the quiet of a summer evening, to smoke a cigar or chat over the merits of the celebration; while others were on horseback, to enjoy an evening's ride or to return to their homes. Bands of music, or rather an occasional beat of the drum, or blast of the bugle, was still to be heard in the distance; while a few soldiers, or rather militia in uniform, were hurrying to and fro. Groups of boys were playing about the square, and last, though not least, our flag was still on high, with Liberty and the eagle in bold colors waving to the night breeze. This had so attracted the attention of the little fellows that once and again they begged of us to make them a present of it; but we told them we could not spare it till the next morning--the fact is, we were not willing to surrender our castle before the time, or till we made good our retreat. As the sun began to decline behind the long range of forest which bounded the western horizon, and the lengthened shadows of the tall trees were thrown over our prison, we called upon the Lord to prosper us and open our way, and then sang aloud the following lines: Lord, cause their foolish plans to fail, And let them faint or die: Our souls would quit this poor old jail, And fly to Illinois-- To join with the embodied Saints, Who are with freedom blest: That only bliss for which we pant, With them awhile to rest. Give joy for grief--give ease for pain, Take all our foes away; But let us find our friends again In this eventful day. These lines were sung several times over, with the spirit and with the understanding also, and very loud and distinct--being heard by the old apostate and his wife, and by the keepers of the prison; but the doctrine of spiritualizing had become so prevalent that neither this, nor the flag of liberty, nor any other Scripture seemed to them to have any literal meaning, till they found too late the true interpretation by the fulfillment.