Impending o'er their heads.

Here one bewails a brother's fate,

'1 here one a sire demands, Cut off, alas ! before their date.

By ignominious hands.

And silver'd grandsires here appear'd

In deep distress serene, Of reverend manners that declared

The better days they'd seen.

Oh ! cursed rebellion, these are thine, Thine are these tales of woe ;

Shall at thy dire insatiate shrine Blood never cease to flow ?

* General William Irvine, of Pennsylvania.

t William Alexander, who unsuccessfully claimed the title of the Scotch Earl cf Stirling, believed that his claim was just, and he was generally called "Lord Stirling."

444 THE HUDSON.

And now the foe began to lead

His forces to th' attack ; Balls whistling unto balls succeed,

And make the block-house crack.

No shot could pass, if you will take

The gen'ral's word for true ; But 'tis a d-- ble mistake.

For ev'ry shot went through.

The firmer as the rebels pressed,

The loyal heroes stand ; Virtue had nei-ved each honest breast.

And Industry each hand.

In valour's frenzy, Hamilton

Eode like a soldier big. And secretary Harrison,

With pen stuck in his wig.*

But, lest chieftain Washington

Should mourn them in the mumps,t

The fate of Withrington to shun, They fought behind the stmups.

But ah! Thaddeus Posset, why

Should thy poor soul elope ? And why should Titus Hooper die,

Ah ! die-- without a rope ?

Apostate Murphy, tliou to whom

Fair Shela ne'er was cruel ; In death shalt hear her mourn thy doom,