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Up from the meadows rich with corn, Clear in the cool September morn, The clustered apires of Frederick stand Green walled by the hills of Maryland, Round about them orchards sweep, Apple and peach tree fruited deep, For as a garden of the Lord Totheeyes of the famished rebel horde, One that pleasant moreof the earlyfall When Lee marched over the mountain-wall Over the Mountains winding down, Horse and foot, in to Frederick-town, Forty flags with their silver stars, Forty flage with their crimson bars, Flapped in the morning wind: the sun Of noon looked down, and saw not one, Up rose old Barbara Fritchie then, Bowed with her fouracore 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. Up the street came the rebel tread, Stonewall Jackson riding shead, Under his slouched hat left and right He glanced; the old flag met hig sight. "Halt!" the dust-brown ranks stood fast, "Fire!" Out blared the rifle-blast. It shivered the window, pane and sash: It rent the banner with seam and gash. Quick as it felt, from the broken staff Dame Barbare anatched the ailken acarf, 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 abame, 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 rebet host. Ever its torn folde rose and fell On the loyal winds that loved it well; And through the hill gape sunset light Shone over it with a warm good night. Barbara Fritchie'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 Fritchie's grave, Flag of freedom and Union, wavel Peace and order and beauty draw Round the symbol of light and law And ever the stars above look down On thy stars below in Frederick-town, Barbara Hauer was born December 3rd, 1766 in Lancaster Pa., and in early life moved to Frederick, Md. where she lived and died. Ameng the many events of her life may be named the following. In 1791 when washington spent a night in frederick at Mrs. Kimball's Hotel, Barbars brought her Liverpool china to grace the table, and at the sham funeral of Washington, she was one of the pall bearers. She was married to John Casper Fritchie by the Rev. Wagner, May 6th 1806, and during the stormy Civil war days she was intensely loyal to her flag and the Unien. Whittier describes her doings admirably in his poem. She died December 18th 1862, aged 96 years and 15 days and is buried in Mount Olivet Comstery, Frederick Md. The Barbara Fritchis home, located directly on the National Highway, has been restered and is now open to the public as a museum. It contains, besides the original flag which she waved, many other interesting things that came into the life of this remarkable woman. |
