Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/572

Twas early day, as poets say,	Without a boat, are all afloat,
Just when the sun was rising,	And rang'd before the city.
A soldier stood, on a log of wood,
And saw a thing surprising.	"Tis motley crew, in vessels new,
	With Satan for their guide, sir,
As in amaze he stood to gaze,	Packed up in bags, or wooden kegs,
The truth can't be denied, sir,	Come driving down the tide, sir.
He spied a score of kegs or more,
Come floating down the tide, sir.	"Therefore prepare for bloody war;
	These kegs must all be routed,
A sailor, too, in jerkin blue,	Or surely we despis'd shall be,
This strange appearance viewing,	And British courage doubted."
First damned his eyes, in great surprise,
Then said, "Some mischief's brewing.	The royal band, now ready stand,
	All ranged in dread array, sir,
"These kegs, I'm told, the rebels hold,	With stomachs stout, to see it out,
Packed up like pickled herring,	And make a bloody day, sir.
And they're come down, t' attack the town,
In this new way of ferrying."	The cannons roar from shore to shore,
	The small arms make a rattle;
The soldier flew, the sailor too,	Since wars began, I 'm sure no man
And scared almost to death, sir,	Ere saw so strange a battle.
Wore out their shoes to spread the news,
And ran till out of breath, sir	The rebel dales, the rebel vales,
	With rebel trees surrounded,
Now up and down, throughout the town	The distant woods, the hills and floods,
Most frantic scenes were acted;	With rebel echoes sounded.
And some ran here, and others there,
Like men almost distracted.	The fish below swam to and fro,
	Attack'd from every quarter;
Some fire cried, which some denied,	Why sure, thought they, the devil's to pay
But said the earth had quakéd;	'Mongst folks above the water.
And girls and boys, with hideous noise,
Ran through the streets half naked.	The kegs, 'tis said, though strongly made
	Of rebel staves and hoops, sir,
Sir William, he, snug as a flea,	Could not oppose their powerful foes,
Lay all this time a snoring;	The conquering British troops, sir.
Nor dreamed of harm, as he lay warm,
In bed with Mrs. Loring.	From morn till night, these men of might
	Displayed amazing courage;
Now in a fright, he starts upright,	And when the sun was fairly down,
Awaked by such a clatter;	Retired to sup their porridge.
He rubs his eyes, and boldly cries,
"For God's sake, what's the matter?"	An hundred men, with each a pen,
	Or more, upon my word, sir,
At his bed side, he then espied,	It is most true word be too few,
Sir Erskine at command, sir,	Their valor to record, sir.
Upon one foot he had one boot,
And t'other in hand, sir.	Such feats did they perform that day,
	Against those wicked kegs, sir,
"Arise! arise! Sir Erskine cries,	That years to come, if they get home,
The rebels—more's the pity—	They'll make their boasts and brags, sir.

END OF VOL. I.