Read THE MANIAC OF VICTORY of A Book For The Young, free online book, by Sarah French, on ReadCentral.com.

But here comes one, that seems to out-rejoice
All the rejoicing tribe! wild is her eye,
And frantic is her air, and fanciful
Her sable suit; and round, she rapid rolls
Her greedy eyes upon the spangled street.
And drinks with greedy gaze upon the sparkling scene!
“And see!” she cries how they have graced the hour
That gave him to his grave! hail lovely lamps,
In honor of that hour a grateful land
Hath hung aloft! and sure he well deserves
The tributary splendor for he fought
Their battles well ah! he was valor’s self
Fierce was the look with which he faced the foe
But on his Harriet, when my hero bent it,
’Twas so benign! and beautiful he was
And he was young; too young in years, to die!
’Twas but a little while his wing had thrown
Its guardian shadow o’er me but ’tis gone
Fall’n is my shield, yet see now if I weep.
A British warrior’s widow should not weep
Her hero sleeps in honor’s fragrant bed
So they all tell me, and I have nobly learned
Their gallant lesson all my tears are gone
Bright glory’s beam has dried them every drop
No, No, I scorn to weep high is mine heart!

Hot are mine eyes! there’s no weak water there!
’Tis time I should have joyed what mother would not?
To have shown him that sweet babe o’er which he wept
When last he kissed it yes he did he wept;
My warrior wept! as the weak woman’s tears
From off this cheek, where now I none can feel,
He kissed away he wet it with his own;
Oh! yes ’twould ’twould have been sweet to have shown him
How his dear lovely boy had: grown, since he
Beheld it cradled, and to have bid it call him
By the sweet name that I had taught it utter
In softest tones, while he was thunder hearing,
And thunder hurling round him for his hand
Would not be idle amid deeds of glory;
Yes glory glory glory is the word
See how it glitters all along the street!
And then she laughs, and wildly leaps along
With tresses all untied. Fair wretch adieu:
In mercy heaven thy shattered peace repair.

FAWCETT.