Oliver's Advice


 * The night is gathering gloomily, the day is closing fast—
 * The tempest flaps his raven wings in loud and angry blast;
 * The thunder clouds are driving athwart the lurid sky—
 * But, “put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.” *
 * There was a day when loyalty was hail’d with honour due,
 * Out banner the protection wav’d to all the good and true—
 * And gallant hearts beneath its folds were link’d in honour’s tie,
 * We put our trust in God, my boys, and we kept our powder dry.
 * When Treason bar’d her bloody arm, and madden’d round the land,
 * For king, and laws, and order fair, we drew the ready brand;
 * Our gathering spell was William’s name—our word was, “do or die,”
 * And still we put our trust in God, and kept our powder dry.
 * But now, alas! a wondrous change has come the nation o’er,
 * And worth and gallant services remember’d are no more,
 * And, crush’d beneath oppression’s weight, in chains of grief we lie—
 * But put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * Forth starts the spawn of Treason, the ’scap’d of ninety-eight,
 * To bask in courtly favour, and seize the helm of state—
 * E’en they whose hands are reeking yet with murder’s crimson dye—
 * But put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * They come, whose deeds incarnadin’d the Slaney’s silver wave—
 * They come, who to the foreign foe the hail of welcome gave;
 * He comes, the open rebel fierce—he comes the Jesuit sly;
 * But put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * They come, whose counsels wrapp’d the land in foul rebellious flame,
 * Their hearts unchastened by remorse, their cheeks unting’d by shame.
 * Be still, be still, indignant heart—be tearless, too, each eye,
 * And put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * The Pow’r that led his chosen, by pillar’d cloud and flame,
 * Through parted sea and desert waste, that Pow’r is still the same.
 * He fails not—He, the loyal hearts that firm on him rely—
 * So put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * The Pow’r that nerv’d the stalwart arms of Gideon’s chosen few,
 * The Pow’r that led the great William, Boyne’s reddening torrent through—
 * In his protecting aid confide, and every foe defy—
 * Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * Already see the star of hope emits its orient blaze,
 * The cheering beacon of relief it glimmers thro’ the haze.
 * It tells of better days to come, it tells of succour nigh,
 * Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * See, see along the hills of Down its rising glories spread,
 * But brightest beams its radiance from Donard's lofty head. **
 * Clanbrassil’s vales are kindling wide, and “Roden” is the cry—
 * Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * Then cheer ye hearts of loyalty, nor sink in dark despair
 * Our banner shall again unfold its glories to the air.
 * The storm that raves the wildest, the soonest passes by;
 * Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * For “happy homes,” for “altars free,” we grasp the ready sword,
 * For freedom, truth, and for our God’s unmutilated word.
 * These, these the war-cry of our march, our hope the Lord on high;
 * Then put your trust in God my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * Clanbrassil’s vales are kindling wide, and “Roden” is the cry—
 * Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * Then cheer ye hearts of loyalty, nor sink in dark despair
 * Our banner shall again unfold its glories to the air.
 * The storm that raves the wildest, the soonest passes by;
 * Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * For “happy homes,” for “altars free,” we grasp the ready sword,
 * For freedom, truth, and for our God’s unmutilated word.
 * These, these the war-cry of our march, our hope the Lord on high;
 * Then put your trust in God my boys, and keep your powder dry.
 * These, these the war-cry of our march, our hope the Lord on high;
 * Then put your trust in God my boys, and keep your powder dry.

Bannside, Nov. 1st. FITZ STEWART.

* There is a well-authenticated anecdote of Cromwell. On a certain occasion, when his troops were about crossing a river to attack the enemy, he concluded an address, couched in the usual fanatic terms in use among them, with these words– "put your trust in God; but mind to keep your powder dry."

** Lord Roden resides at the base of Slieve Donard.