And manly fortitude to bear;
They toil'd, they vanquished I such high worth
Is always Heaven's peculiar care.
Their great example still inspires,
Nor dare we act beneath our sires.

'Tis ours undaunted to defend
The dear-bought, rich inheritance;
And spite of each invading hand,
We'll fight, bleed, die, in its defence!
Pursue our fathers' paths of fame,
And emulate their glorious flame.

As the proud oak inglorious stands,
Till storms and thunder root it fast,
So stood our new unpractised bands,
Till Britain roar'd her stormy blast;
Then, see, they vanquish'd! fierce led on
By Freedom and great Washington.


The song had very little poetry and less music in it; but patriotism
applauded its spirit. Mr. Hand again directed the conversation in such a
manner as to glean as much information from the veteran patriots as
possible, and enquired if any of them had seen the hero of
Bennington--General John Stark.

"Oh! yes," replied Timothy Ransom, "There was very few of the
right-side-up men in Vermont, that I didn't see and know too. See
General Stark! I guess I did; and seen a leetle of him at Bennington,