Page:Songs, Legends, and Ballads.djvu/122

110 When lips were mute, and women's faces white
 * As the pale cloud that out from Sumter rolled.

Call back that morn: an instant all were dumb,
 * As if the shot had struck the Nation's life;

Then cleared the smoke, and rolled the calling drum.
 * And men streamed in to meet the coming strife.

They closed the ledger and they stilled the loom,
 * The plough left rusting in the prairie farm;

They saw but "Union" in the gathering gloom;
 * The tearless women helped the men to arm;

Brigades from towns—each village sent its band:
 * German and Irish—every race and faith;

There was no question then of native land,
 * But—love the Flag and follow it to death.

No need to tell their tale: through every age
 * The splendid story shall be sung and said;