Full-galloping; nor bridle drew

Until he reached the mound.

Then off there flung in smiling joy,

And held himself erect

By just his horse's mane, a boy:
You hardly could suspect-

(So tight he kept his lips compressed,
Scarce any blood came through)
You looked twice ere you saw his breast
Was all but shot in two.

"Well," cried he, "Emperor, by God's grace

We've got you Ratisbon!

The Marshal's in the market-place,

And you'll be there anon

To see your flag-bird flap his vans

Where I, to heart's desire,

Perched him!" The chief's eye flashed; his plans

Soared up again like fire.

The chief's eye flashed; but presently

Softened itself, as sheathes

A film the mother-eagle's eye

When her bruised eaglet breathes;

"You're wounded!" "Nay," the soldier's pride

Touched to the quick, he said:

"I'm killed, Sire!" And his chief beside,

Smiling, the boy fell dead.

The Flag Goes By

Henry Holcomb Bennett

Henry Holcomb Bennett was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1863. He is a journalist and writes for the Youth's Companion and the New York Independent.

Although the words "Hats Off" should be given in the quick, ringing tones of a command, avoid saying hat-soff. Note that the marked transitions in this poem come between stanzas 2 and 3, and 5 and 6. Stanzas 1 and 2 describe the flag as it passes by. Stanzas 3, 4, and 5 tell of what the flag stands for, and these should be given in slow rate, full orotund tones, and with strong force. Stanza 6 is simply a refrain-an echo of stanza 1-and this makes a pleasing and effective close.

HATS off!

Along the street there comes

A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,
A flash of color beneath the sky:
Hats off!

The flag is passing by!

Blue and crimson and white it shines,
Over the steel tipped, ordered lines.
Hats off!

The colors before us fly;

But more than the flag is passing by.

Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great,

Fought to make and save the State;

Weary marches and sinking ships;

Cheers of victory on dying lips;
Days of plenty and years of peace,

March of a strong land's swift increase:

Equal justice, right and law,

Stately honor and reverent awe;

Sign of a nation great and strong
To ward her people from foreign wrong;
Pride and glory and honor, all

Live in the colors to stand or fall.
Hats off!

Along the street there comes

A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums;
And loyal hearts are beating high:
Hats off!

The flag is passing by!

Reprinted by permission of the author.

Columbus

Joaquin Miller

Joaquin Miller was born in Indiana in 1841 and died in Berkeley, California, in 1914. He came to the Pacific Coast with his parents in 1850, just after the discovery of gold.

This is properly considered one of the great distinctively American poems. Note the determination and faith of the "Brave Admiral" as shown in "Sail on!" etc., and emphasize it by contrasting it with the fear and doubt in the words of the "stout mate." Use clear, ringing tones on "Sail on!" Note especially the climax in the last stanza, which should be given with large volume and strong force.

BEHIND him lay the gray Azores,

Behind, the Gates of Hercules;
Before him not the ghost of shores,
Before him only shoreless seas.

The good mate said, "Now must we pray,
For lo! the very stars are gone,

Speak, admiral, what shall I say?"

"Why, say, 'Sail on! sail on! and on!"

"My men grow mutinous day by day;

My men grow ghastly wan and weak.” The stout mate thought of home; a spray

Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek. "What shall I say, brave admiral, say,

If we sight naught but seas at dawn?" "Why, you shall say at break of day, 'Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!''

They sailed and sailed, as winds might blow,
Until at last the blanched mate said,
"Why, now not even God would know
Should I and all my mates fall dead.
These very winds forget their way,

For God from these dread seas is gone.
Now speak, brave admiral; speak and say "
He said, "Sail on! sail on! and on!"

They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the mate: "This mad sea shows its teeth to-night.

He curls his lip, he lies in wait,

With lifted teeth, as if to bite!

Brave admiral, say but one good word;
What shall we do when hope is gone?"

The words leapt as a leaping sword,

"Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!"

Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck,

And peered through darkness. Ah, that night

Of all dark nights! And then a speck-
A light! A light! A light! A light!
It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!

It grew, to be Time's burst of dawn.
He gained a world; he gave that world
Its grandest lesson: "On! and on!"
Reprinted by permission of Mrs. Abbie Leland Miller.

Give Us Men

Josiah Gilbert Holland

Josiah Gilbert Holland was born at Belchertown, Mass., in 1819, and died in New York in 1881. He was for many years the editor of The Century magazine. He was a novelist, poet, and essayist of note.

Here is a masterpiece of spirit and directness. Deliver it with a firm, ringing voice, and with earnestness.

GIVE US men!

Men from every rank,
Fresh and free and frank;
Men of thought and reading,
Men of light and leading,
Men of loyal breeding,

The nation's welfare speeding;

Men of faith and not of fiction,

Men of lofty aim and action,
Give us men-I say again

Give us men!

Give us men!

Strong and stalwart ones:

Men whom highest hope inspires,