①From the account in St.Nicholas ，February，1890，by Mr.John P.Dunning.
The American Flag
JOSEP RODMAN DRAKE
WHEN Freedom from her mountain height Unfurled her standard to the air，She tore the azure robe of night，And set the stars of glory there.
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes The milky baldric of the skies，And striped its pure celestial whiteWith streakings of the morning light ；Then from his mansion in the sun She called her eagle bearer down，And gave into his mighty handThe symbol of her chosen land.
Majestic monarch of the cloud，Who rear‘st aloft thy regal form，To hear the tempest trumpings loud And see the lightning lances driven，When strive the warriors of the storm，And rolls the thunderdrum of Heaven，
Child of the Sun！to thee ’tis given To guard the banner of the free，To hover in the sulphur smoke，To ward away the battlestroke，And bid its blendings shine afar，Like rainbows on the cloud of war，The harbingers of victory！
Flag of the brave！thy folds shall fly，The sign of hope and triumph high，When speaks the signal trumpet tone，And the long line comes gleaming on.Ere yet the lifeblood，warm and wet，Has dimmed the glistening bayonet，Each soldier eye shall brightly turnTo where thy skyborn glories burn；And，as his springing steps advance，Catch war and vengeance from the glance.And，when the cannonmouthings loud Heave in wild wreaths the battle shroud，And gory sabres rise and fallLike shoots of flame on midnight‘s pall，Then shall thy meteor glances glow，And cowering foes shall shrink beneath Each gallant arm that strikes belowThat lovely messenger of death.
Flag of the seas！on ocean wave
Thy stars shall glitter o’er the brave；When Death，careering on the gale，Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail，And frighted waves rush wildly back Before the broadside‘s reeling rack，Each dying wanderer of the seaShall look at once to Heaven and thee，And smile to see thy splendors fly
In triumph，o’er his closing eye.
Flag of the free heart‘s hope and home！By angel hands to Valor given！
Thy stars have lit the welkin dome，And all thy hues were born in Heaven.
Forever float that standard sheet！
Where breathes the foe but falls before us，With Freedom’s soil beneath our feet，And Freedom‘s banner streaming o’er us.
15.Judge Hopkinson‘s Patriotic Song.Joseph Hopkinson （born 1770，died 1842）was a native of Philadelphia.His father was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.Joseph was educated at the University of Pennsylvania，became a lawyer，was a representative in congress，and a judge of the federal courts.He wrote “Hail，Columbia！”in 1798，when there was danger of a war with France.The popular excitement at that time was very great.The young navy was sent to sea to guard our merchant ships，and preparations were made for the organization of an army.Washington was called from his retirement at Mt.Vernon and given command of this army.John Adams was president.The music，then called the “President’s March，”was played in the theaters and by bands on the streets as a popular patriotic tune.Young Mr.Hopkinson was asked to write a song for the music，which might be sung at the benefit of a wellknown actor.The song was “Hail，Columbia！”and was received by the audience with the wildest enthusiasm.In a very few days it was sung from Maine to Georgia.
Hail，Columbia！
JOSEPH HOPKINSON
HAIL，Columbia！happy land！
Hail，ye heroes！heavenborn band！
Who fought and bled in Freedom‘s cause，Who fought and bled in Freedom’s cause，And When the storm of war was gone Enjoyed the peace your valor won.
Let independence be our boast，Ever mindful what it cost；Ever grateful for the prize，Let its altar reach the skies.
Firm，united，let us be，Rallying round our Liberty；As a band of brothers joined，Peace and safety we shall find.
Immortal patriots！rise once more：Defend your rights，defend your shore：Let no rude foe with impious hand，Let no rude foe with impious hand，Invade the shrine where sacred liesOf toil and blood the wellearned prize.While offering peace sincere and just，In Heaven we place a manly trust，That truth and justice will prevail，And every scheme of bondage fail.
Firm，united，etc.
Sound，sound，the trump of Fame！Let WASHINGTON‘S great nameRing through the world with loud applause，Ring through the world with loud applause；Let every clime to Freedom dear，Listen with a joyful ear.
With equal skill and godlike power，He governed in the fearful hourOf horrid war；or guides，with ease，The happier times of honest peace.
Firm，united，etc.
Behold the chief who now commands，Once more to serve his country，standsThe rock on which the storm will beat；The rock on which the storm will beat，But，armed in virtue firm and true，His hopes are fixed on Heaven and you.
When hope was sinking in dismay，And glooms obscured Columbia’s day，His steady mind from changes free，Resolved on death or liberty.
Firm，united，let us be，Rallying round our Liberty；As a band of brothers joined，Peace and safety we shall find.