WITTER BYNNER A FARMER REMEMBERS LINCOLN "Lincoln? Well, I was in the old Second Maine, 5 The first regiment in Washington from the Pine Tree State. Of course I didn't get the butt of the clip; We was all green. 10 "I ain't never ben to but one theater in my life I didn't know how to behave. I ain't never ben since. I can see as plain as my hat the box where he sat in When he was shot. 15 I can tell, you, sir, there was a panic When we found our President was in the shape he was in! Never saw a soldier in the world but what liked him. "Yes, sir. His looks was kind o' hard to forget. 20 He was a spare man, An old farmer. Everything was all right, you know, But he wasn't a smooth-appearin' man in no ways; 25 And a swellin' kind of a thick lip like. "And he was a jolly old fellow always cheerful; He wan't so high but the boys could talk to him their own ways. While I was servin' at the Hospital He'd come in and say, 'You look nice in here,' Praise us up, you know. And he'd bend over and talk to the boys And he'd talk so good to "em so close 5 That's why I call him a farmer. I don't mean that everything about him wan't all right, to you understand, It's just well, I was a farmer— And he was my neighbor, anybody's neighbor. pana "I guess even you young folks would' a' liked him.” VACHEL LINDSAY GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH ENTERS INTO HEAVEN I [Bass drum beaten loudly] Booth led boldly with his big bass drum - The Saints smiled gravely and they said: "He's come.' Drabs from the alleyways and drug fiends pale- 15 20 25 Vermin-eaten saints with mouldy breath, Unwashed legions with the ways of Death(Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?) [Banjos] 5 Every slum had sent its half-a-score The round world over. (Booth had groaned for more.) Every banner that the wide world flies Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes. Big-voiced lasses made their banjos bang, 10 Tranced, fanatical, they shrieked and sang: "Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?" Hallelujah! It was queer to see Bull-necked convicts of that land made free. Loons with trumpets blowed a blare, blare, blare 15 On, on upward thro' the golden air! (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?) II [Bass drum slower and softer] Booth died blind and still by Faith he trod, [Sweet flute music] Jesus came from out the court-house door, Marched on spotless, clad in raiment new. The lame were straightened, withered limbs uncurled And blind eyes opened on a new, sweet world. [Bass drum louder] Drabs and vixens in a flash made whole! [Grand chorus of all instruments. Tambourines The hosts were sandalled, and their wings were fire! But their noise played havoc with the angel-choir. O, shout Salvation! It was good to see 5 10 15 20 [Reverently sung, no instruments] And when Booth halted by the curb for prayer 5 For Booth the soldier while the throng knelt down. CHARLES HANSON TOWNE CITY ROOFS1 (From the Metropolitan Tower) Roof-tops, roof-tops, what do you cover? Roof-tops, roof-tops, O what sin you're knowing, While above you in the sky the white clouds are blowing; While beneath you, agony and dolor and grim strife 20 Fight the olden battle, the olden war of Life. Roof-tops, roof-tops, cover up their shame Wretched souls, prison souls too piteous to name; 1 From Charles Hanson Towne: Today and Tomorrow, Copyright 1916, George H. Doran Company, Publishers. |