Student and Schoolmate: "The American Flag," by Mrs. P. A. Hanaford (1865)

THE AMERICAN FLAG, by Mrs. P. A. Hanaford (from Student and Schoolmate, April 1865, p. 116)

[The following lines were recited by a little boy at a public school examination, in a New England town. The young patriot held the star-spangled banner in his hand, and his comrades joined in the chorus.]

This is our flag, and may it wave
      Wide over land and sea!
Though others love a different flag,
      This is the flag for me.

Chorus.--And that's the flag for all our land,--
      We will revere no other,
And he who loves the symbol fair,
      Shall be to us a brother.


America's the land we love,
      Our broad, fair land so free,
And, schoolmates, whereso'er I go,
      This is the flag for me.
CHORUS

These glorious stars and radiant stripes
      With youthful joy I see,
May no rude hand its beauty mar,
      This is the flag for me.
CHORUS

On many a battle-field, alas!
      Our banner now must be;
But torn, or pierced by rebel balls,
      This is the flag for me!
CHORUS

God speed our bright, star-spangled flag,
      Where e'er the battle be!--
I cannot fight, but I can choose,
      And that's the flag for me.
CHORUS