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| THE NIGHT before the Stamp-Act | |
| Should rule the colony, | |
| We slept not much; we melted lead; | |
| We whetted steel; we plann’d ahead, | |
| We “Sons of Liberty.” | 5 |
| |
| Then, when the morn was breaking, | |
| On every hill and plain, | |
| In all the towns, we toll’d the bells, | |
| That all began with doleful knells, | |
| As though for Freedom slain. | 10 |
| |
| Anon, they rang out madly | |
| What might have peal’d to be | |
| The land’s alarm-bell—only now | |
| They peal’d to hail the new-born vow | |
| Of men that would be free. | 15 |
| |
| New York went wild to hear them. | |
| Men flooded every way: | |
| They left their shops; they stopt their mills; | |
| And farmers flock’d from all the hills, | |
| And sailors from the bay. | 20 |
| |
| Now who would buy a stamp here? | |
| Was ask’d in all the ways, | |
| But not a shop was not shut to; | |
| For all had wiser work to do | |
| On this, our day of days. | 25 |
| |
| “We would not, and we will not | |
| Submit,” said Isaac Sears. | |
| The governor said: “You fill the street, | |
| But here a fort and there a fleet | |
| May yet awake your fears.” | 30 |
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| Then from the fort the cannon | |
| Were turn’d upon the town, | |
| But “If you fire,” the people cried, | |
| “We hang the governor here outside, | |
| Or burn your quarters down.” | 35 |
| |
| At night, the boys with torches | |
| Came trooping out for sport. | |
| They sought the house of James, and took | |
| The army flags his fear forsook, | |
| And march’d them round the fort. | 40 |
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| The governor own’d his coaches, | |
| And one a coach of state. | |
| They burst his barn-door in with cries | |
| And dragg’d them off before his eyes, | |
| As trophies of their hate. | 45 |
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| An image of the devil, | |
| And of the governor too | |
| They made, and made them both careen, | |
| While, side by side, through Bowling Green, | |
| They wheel’d them into view. | 50 |
| |
| At last, of all the coaches | |
| They form’d a funeral pyre; | |
| And, full in face of all the town, | |
| Who only roar’d its roar to drown, | |
| They set the whole on fire. | 55 |
| |
| The governor begg’d the army, | |
| The army begg’d the fleet, | |
| To take the stamps and save the fort; | |
| But neither cared to brave the sport | |
| Of those who fill’d the street. | 60 |
| |
| The courage of the courtiers | |
| Had bow’d to wisdom higher; | |
| The power of right that ruled the street | |
| Had overawed the fort and fleet— | |
| They did not dare to fire. | 65 |
| |
| So nothing now was left them | |
| Except to yield us all. | |
| Our mayor took the stamps, at last, | |
| And bore them off, and lock’d them fast | |
| Within the City Hall. | 70 |
| |
| And loud the people shouted; | |
| They felt that right was done; | |
| Cried “Liberty and Property! | |
| No stamps to curse the Colony!” | |
| And parted, one by one. | 75 |
| |
| The next day all the papers | |
| Without the stamps appear’d. | |
| Men took no notes, but trusted men. | |
| Our ships were off to sea again; | |
| And none the navy fear’d. | 80 |
| |
| And none had bought a stamp there, | |
| Or seal’d himself a slave; | |
| And half of England, trust my word, | |
| Were thrill’d with joy, when they had heard | |
| How we ourselves could save. | 85 |
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| At last there came a daybreak | |
| When all the thankful kneel’d; | |
| And bells were rung, and banners hung; | |
| And England’s weal was drunk and sung— | |
| The Stamp Act was repeal’d. | 90 |
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