Part 30 (2/2)
For the bars that are white and red, And stars on blue overhead We honor thee with a cheer!
Hurrah! Hurrah! Girl Pioneer!”
Before the echo of the cheer had died in the distance Nathalie cried, ”Oh, girls, the first signal!” Immediately these little patriotic Daughters of that which every one holds dear fell into line, and with flags upheld fastened their eyes on a small platform that had been erected in the center of the lawn draped with the national colors, where the G.o.ddess of Liberty had just appeared. Holding up a green branch in her hand she began to walk agitatedly up and down the stage, pausing abruptly every moment or so to peer to the right or left, as if watching for some one.
Suddenly she halted, and with the dramatic gestures of Lillie Bell-for it was she-cried in mournful tone, ”'Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty G.o.d! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!'”
As the tragic intonation of her voice ceased, the band-composed, by the way, of a number of Scouts-burst forth with that old melody, ”The Wearing of the Green.” This was another signal, and the girls waiting under the arch began to march slowly towards the stage, while the G.o.ddess in feigned mystification moved quickly from side to side with her hand held to her ear, as if trying to ascertain whence came this martial tune.
But on came the Daughters of Liberty with flashes of white and red, and with banners of many designs and devices. They presented such a brilliant showing that the audience seated in rows on the circling mounds broke into loud applause, which burst into enthusiastic cheers of greeting, as in the bright glare of the sunlight they perceived Old Glory floating far above the heads of the banner bearers as they proudly marched across the green.
When the G.o.ddess perceived this procession of fair damsels she stood apparently in a maze for a moment, and then slowly retreated backward until she stood on the scarlet draped dais with its throne. As the thirteen maids of freedom filed slowly on the platform, forming a half circle before the G.o.ddess, the band struck into that old-time air, ”The Liberty Tree,” and a second later every Daughter had chimed in and was singing:
”In a chariot of light from the regions of day The G.o.ddess of Liberty came; Ten thousand celestials directed the way, And hither conducted the dame.
A fair budding branch from the gardens above, Where millions and millions agree She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love, And the plant she named Liberty Tree.”
CHAPTER XVIII-THE PRINCESS MAKES TWO MORE FRIENDS
”And the plant she named Liberty Tree,” sang Nita blithely up in the window of the sun parlor, where she sat with her mother and her old Scotch nurse, Ellen, watching the brilliant scene being enacted down on the lawn.
As the last verse ended-and there were four-Helen stepped before the G.o.ddess, and after saluting told in a few words how the brave pioneers had brought to this land a tiny spark which had flamed into the sacred fire of Liberty. As time wore on, trampled by the sons of Tyranny, it was in danger of being stamped out, when the daughters of these pioneers fled to its aid in their great fight for the right, and by their bravery and heroic self-denial had revived the sacred fire. The ensigns now floating before her were the signals of their success in making this land, ”The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave!”
An expression of regret flitted across Nita's face as she realized that she could not hear the words Helen was speaking, but in a moment, remembering, she cried, ”But I have them, Mamma, for Nathalie not only taught me the words of the songs, but wrote down for me the speeches of the girls. Ah, Helen is telling the G.o.ddess how the Pilgrims came to this land and planted the Liberty Tree. Of course they did not really plant it, you know, only in their hearts, for they were determined to have liberty of conscience, speech, and action.
”Oh, and there's another daughter speaking to the G.o.ddess. See, she carries the flag that came over in the _Mayflower_ with the Pilgrims.”
Then Miss Nita, finding she had an appreciative audience in her mother and Ellen, rattled on, highly pleased to think she was giving them such good entertainment. She repeated the words of each fair daughter as she displayed her trophy of liberty, and could clap as enthusiastically as the spectators watching from the hillocks in the distance. Mrs. Van Vorst, as she heard her daughter's words and witnessed her joy, entering with as much zest and spirit into the patriotic little drill as the Pioneers smiled in attune with the invalid, showing more enjoyment than she had done for years.
”There's the flag of Bunker Hill; it is just like the Pine Tree flag, only it is blue instead of red,” exclaimed Nita. ”And, oh, Mother, see, there's the real Liberty Flag with its pine tree, and motto, 'An Appeal to Heaven.' Look quick! that's the Markoe flag! See, it is yellow and has thirteen stripes of blue and silver. Nathalie said this flag was the first one on land to float stripes, and that it was the flag carried by the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse when they escorted Was.h.i.+ngton to New York. And that crimson silk flag is the Casimir flag; it belonged to Count Casimir. He was the son of Pulaski, who perished in a dungeon for advocating the cause of liberty. The Count came to America and organized a corps of cavalry at Baltimore, and when the Moravian nuns heard of it they presented him with that flag. But, oh, Mother, the poor Count died after all; he was shot at the siege of Savannah in 1779.”
Ellen, the old Scotch nurse who adored her invalid charge, and who had always taken care of her from the time she was a wee tot, was deeply stirred as she saw how Nita entered into the new life that had suddenly been opened up to her, and her face fairly beamed with gratified pride as she heard her repeat the songs and speeches of the girls in the playlet.
When the last speech ended, the strains of Yankee Doodle were heard, and presently a Scout in the uniform of a Continental soldier appeared on the platform carrying a draped flag. After saluting the mother of Freedom he planted his pole in the center of the circle of Liberty maidens, and the next instant each one had caught up one of the red, blue, and white streamers that hung from it, and were swinging gayly around, singing ”The Red, White, and Blue.”
This song was followed by the ”Battle Cry of Freedom,” and then the soldier, saluting the G.o.ddess again in a short speech, said he desired to present to her an emblem, the outgrowth of the labors of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty. The ensign that stands for everything that is just, true, and progressive, the symbol of the sovereignty of Civilization, the banner that had been unfurled in more movements for the protection, the liberty, and the elevation of mankind, than any ensign that ripples to the four winds of Heaven.
Oh, no, the little company up in the window didn't hear all these words from the lips of the soldier, but from Nita as she read them softly from her paper. But they did see the signal given by the soldier, and clapped with joy when each fair daughter pulled her streamer, the red drapings fell from the pole, and Old Glory stood revealed. And as the colors swayed softly in the gentle breeze they joined with patriotic fervor as the girls and audience broke into ”The Star Spangled Banner!”
The Flag Drill was over, and the girls, breaking ranks, were soon scattered here and there over the lawn in groups, as they stood receiving the congratulations of their friends on the success of the entertainment. It was but a moment or so, however, and the girls had all rushed back to duty, and each one with a scout was serving ice-cream and cake to the buyers at the gayly festooned tables under the trees.
Nathalie, nerve and bone tired, was wis.h.i.+ng that she could sit down if only for a moment, when her eyes suddenly grew bright with thought, and the next second she had darted across the gra.s.s crying, ”Oh, Grace, don't you think it would be nice if we could take some cream and cake up to Nita and her mother?”
”Nita?” repeated that young lady, who had never heard the name before.
”Why, what do you mean?”
Nathalie started. ”Oh, why, to be sure, I forgot to tell you about her, but Mrs. Morrow thought best to-”
Nathalie broke off in despair as she realized that Grace knew nothing about the princess in the tower and the many other happenings at the gray house, only that its owner had consented to allow the girls to use her lawn.
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