Nation, Carry A.
. The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
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AMERICA'S HISTORIC HATCHET.
Ere Yankee Doodle came to town,
And routed king and tory,
Three words sublime were writ by time
To live in song and story;
"George Washington" -- immortal name
There's few or none can match it;
His father's favorite cherry tree,
And "George's little hatchet."
In Boston's harbor next we trace
The little hatchet's story;
In smashing up the Crown's tea-chests,
It won a crown of glory.
And every time Wrong shows his head,
That weapon "bald doth snatch it,
For patriot hands are ever found
To wield the "Yankee hatchet."
A century and more has passed,
With blooms and blizzards blowing
O'er Kansas' plains -- where corn and grains,
'Round happy homes are growing;
Where statutes pure close each "joint" door,
Forbidding to unlatch it,
There, in the fight, defending Right,
We find our "loyal hatchet."
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The boy who `could not tell a lie,"
The flag of freedom planted,
He shelled "Corn" -- wallis to the "cob"
On Yorktown's field undaunted.
Since then, our tea is duty free
No Briton dare attach it;
While the new woman in the case,
Now poses with the hatchet.
She dares to fight a gorgon fight!
A cruel monster hell-born,
Whose hungry maw, ignoring law,
Mocks misery's tears to scorn.
She may not slay the beast, but aye
Her blows will badly scratch it;
All praise is due the woman true,
Who wields the "home-guard" hatchet.
When time shall build the marble guild,
That marks man's reformation,
Its arch of fame shall bear the name
Of dauntless Carrie Nation.
Her righteous scorn of rum and wrong --
May all creation catch it,
And join the "Woman's World Crusade,"
Armed with "our nation's" hatchet.
-- Minna Irving, in Leslie's Weekly. Revised and second stanza added by C. Butler Andrews.