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BARBARA FRIETCHIE

Up from the meadows rich with corn,
Clear in the cool September morn,

The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green-walled by the hills of Maryland.

Round about them orchards sweep,
Apple and peach trees fruited deep,

Fair as the garden of the Lord

To the eyes of the famished rebel horde,

On that pleasant morn of the early fall, When Lee marched over the mountain-wall,

Over the mountains winding down,
Horse and foot, into Frederick town.

Forty flags with their silver stars,
Forty flags with their crimson bars,

Flapped in the morning wind: the sun
Of noon looked down, and saw not one.

Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;

Bravest of all in Frederick town,

She took up the flag the men hauled down;

In her attic window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet.

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It shivered the window, pane and sash;
It rent the banner with seam and gash.

Quick, as it fell from the broken staff,
Dame Barbara snatched the silken scarf.

She leaned far out on the window-sill,
And shook it forth with a royal will.

"Shoot, if you must, this old gray head, But spare your country's flag," she said.

A shade of sadness, a blush of shame
Over the face of the leader came.

The nobler nature within him stirred
To life at that woman's deed and word:

"Who touches a hair of yon gray head Dies like a dog! March on!" he said.

All day long through Frederick street
Sounded the tread of marching feet:

All day long that free flag tost
Over the heads of the rebel host.

Ever its torn folds rose and fell
On the loyal winds that loved it well;

And through the hill-gaps sunset light
Shone over it with a warm good-night.

Barbara Frietchie's work is o'er,

And the rebel rides on his raids no more.

Honor to her! and let a tear

Fall, for her sake, on Stonewall's bier.

Over Barbara Frietchie's grave,
Flag of Freedom and Union, wave!

Peace and order and beauty draw
Round thy symbol of light and law;

And ever the stars above look down
On thy stars below in Frederick town!
JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER

LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD

THE highest statue in the world stands on a little island in New York harbor looking out towards Europe. It is 151 feet high and the torch at the top is 305 feet above the water. Forty persons can stand inside the head of the statue. The arm that holds the torch is so big that a staircase is built inside. The first finger is seven feet long.

But it is not the bigness of the Statue of Liberty that makes Americans proud of it. It is what that statue means. France gave it to us. The French people, after a hundred years of suffering, struggle and bloodshed and a terrible war with Prussia, became a republic. They remembered the great sympathy of their forefathers for us when we were becoming a republic, and they remembered that the hundredth birthday of American Independence was just taking place. They wanted to show to America that the two nations are brothers, united by love of liberty.

Longfellow, the poet, and Sumner the statesman encouraged Monsieur Bartholdi to lend his skill to the building of the statue. French people, rich and poor, were eager to

give the $400,000 that it cost. Americans gladly subscribed $300,000 for the pedestal. It was unveiled in 1886 at a memorable cere

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This grand statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World" is the figure of a woman bearing in one hand a tablet with the words. "July 4, 1776," and with the other hand holding up a torch with a great light shining from it.

The light from the torch of the Statue of Liberty shines. across the ocean toward the older coun

tries calling to those in less fortunate

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

lands to come to America where they can be free men and women. It lights up the heavens with a glow that tells all the world that America is eternally devoted to the cause of democracy and freedom. It sends out the message that the two republics, France and the United States, stand together now and forever shoulder to shoulder to protect the rights of man.

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