CHORUS.
Three cheers now, boys, for liberty,
Three cheers again in louder voice,
For Hobson and his victory,
And for the flag of Hobson’s choice.
He knew the course that he must take
Would lead him to the mouth of hell,
And boldly for his country’s sake,
He braved the storm of shot and shell.
He knew that mines beset the place,
Where he must go to sink his ship,
And death would meet him face to face,
Ere he had time to make the trip.
He knew his ship was weak and frail,
And could not stand the Spanish fire;
But all the signs that he would fail,
Served but to raise his courage higher.
He knew that bombs embraced his boat,
And one good shot would send her high,
But lose or win, and sink or float,
He was ready to do and die.
Advised to hoist the flag of Spain,
And thus deceive his watchful foe,
He could not bear his name to stain,
And quickly gave a manly “No.”
“The stars and stripes, I love the name,”
(Thus spake the grand heroic voice.)
“Whether I fall, or rise to fame,
My country’s flag shall be my choice.”
His mother’s home might soon be sold,
But surely this can never be,
His life should take the place of gold,
When given for humanity.
He gaged his countrymen right well,
And left his mother in their hands;
No mortgagee could ever sell,
A nation’s hero’s mother’s lands.
Seven brave men composed his crew,
All volunteers from Sampson’s fleet,
And ev’ry man a hero true,
Knowing the danger he must meet.
His ship was called the Merrimac,
A noted name in history.
And soon she’ll sink and block a track,
A sacrifice to victory.
At morning dawn the start was made,
And quick he reached the chosen spot,
’Mid storms of shell from hill and glade,
And hundreds of death dealing shot.
The cannons roared, the engine stop’d,
The anchor then was quickly dumped,
All hands ran aft, a float was drop’d,
And onto it eight heroes jumped.
The fuse was lit, the ship blew up,
And sank upon the proper site,
Cervera’s fleet was bottled up,
And lost all chance to win the fight.
A braver deed was never done,
In all the ages of mankind,
Since Adam faced the morning sun,
Or Christ inspired the human mind.
Their duty done, no longer use
To risk their lives upon that trip,
And hoisting up a flag of truce
Were taken to Cervera’s ship.
The Admiral, a gallant man,
As ever storm of battle braved,
Altho he did not like the plan,
Rejoiced that our brave men were saved.
And then he did a noble act,
As human ear has ever heard,
By telling us the joyful fact,
And sending our brave Sampson word.
A thousand cheers now rent the air,
And echoed all around the world,
Where freedom’s sons and daughters fair,
Will keep our hero’s flag unfurled.
Brave Hobson has adorned his age,
And nobly won immortal fame,
His deed will blaze on hist’ry’s page,
And all the world will praise his name.
THE OLD SOLDIER.
Make your walks level and see they are straight
And hang sweet flowers on your open gate,
Throw the blinds apart, raise the curtains high,
Swing the door open and then stand near by,
For an old soldier is coming along.
His step now is short and not very strong,
He uses a crutch to help him along,
His heart is honest and his head is clear,
He blossoms with love and brings you good cheer,
For he’s a good soldier hobbling along.
He has but one eye and that is quite weak,
But thanks to his God his good tongue can speak,
He stops to converse and rest him awhile,
And meets an old friend who greets with a smile
The gallant old soldier coming along.
The little dogs bark when they see the crutch,
For fear he will give them a gentle touch,
The little boys laugh and he speaks no blame,
But stops and helps them finish their game,
For he’s a kind soldier coming along.
The boys admire him and bring him a seat,
And gather about to hear him repeat
The stories of war in the field and camp,
In the fort and trench, or on the long tramp,
As the brave soldier was talking along.
He tells them slowly how the battle begun,
With rattle of muskets and booming gun,
How the soldier’s hopes arose and then fell,
As cheers were followed by bursting shell,
As the old soldier was marching along.
How the orders were given fast and thick,
The first one to march, then the double quick;
How the brave Colonel led into the fight,
Where the battle was hot on left and right,
As the old soldier was running along.
How the boys in blue gave the rebels fits