Dave I send of my phot a couple copies. one for the children each If I knew their first names I wid have written on How she led the rest to arms-how she gave the cue, How at once with lithe limbs, unwaiting a moment, she sprang ; (O superb! O Manhattan, my own, my peerless! strongest you in the hour of danger, in crisis! O truer than steel!) How you sprang! how you threw off the costumes of peace with indifferent hand; How your soft opera-music changed, and the drum and fife were heard in their stead; How you led to the war, (that shall serve for our prelude, songs of soldiers,) How Manhattan drum-taps led. ΙΟ 2 Forty years had I in my city seen soldiers parading; Forty years as a pageant-till unawares, the Lady of this teeming and turbulent city, Sleepless amid her ships, her houses, her incalculable wealth, With her million children around her-suddenly, At dead of night, at news from the south, Incens'd, struck with clench'd hand the pavement. A shock electric-the night sustain'd it; Till with ominous hum, our hive at day-break pour'd out its myriads. From the houses then, and the workshops, and through all the doorways, Leapt they tumultuous-and lo! Manhattan arming. 20 The mechanics arming, (the trowel, the jack-plane, the blacksmith's hammer, tost aside with precipitation ;) The lawyer leaving his office, and arming-the judge leaving the court; The driver deserting his wagon in the street, jumping down, throwing the reins abruptly down on the horses' backs; The salesman leaving the store-the boss, book-keeper, porter, all leaving; Squads gather' everywhere by common consent, and arm ;' The new recruits, even boys-the old men show them how to wear their accoutrements-they buckle the straps carefully; Outdoors arming-indoors arming the flash of the musketbarrels ; The white tents cluster in camps-the arm'd sentries around— the sunrise cannon, and again at sunset; 30 Arm'd regiments arrive every day, pass through the city, and embark from the wharves; (How good they look, as they tramp down to the river, sweaty, with their guns on their shoulders! How I love them! how I could hug them, with their brown faces, and their clothes and knapsacks cover'd with dust!) The blood of the city up-arm'd arm'd the cry everywhere; The flags flung out from the steeples of churches, and from all the public buildings and stores; The tearful parting-the mother kisses her son-the son kisses his mother; (Loth is the mother to part-yet not a word does she speak to detain him ;) The tumultuous escort-the ranks of policemen preceding, clearing the way; The unpent enthusiasm-the wild cheers of the crowd for their favorites; The artillery-the silent cannons, bright as gold, drawn along, rumble lightly over the stones; (Silent cannons-soon to cease your silence ! Soon, unlimber'd, to begin the red business ;) All the mutter of preparation-all the determin'd arming; 40 The women volunteering for nurses-the work begun for, in earnest no mere parade now; War! an arm'd race is advancing!—the welcome for battle no turning away; War! be it weeks, months, or years-an arm'd race is advancing to welcome it. 4 Mannahatta a-march !—and it's O to sing it well! 1 Drum-Taps for "gather" reads " gathering." |