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92 THE GOLDEN TREASURY OF |
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KEVIN T. BUGGY (1816-1843)
THE SAXON SHILLING'
H
ARK ! a martial sound is heard — The march of soldiers, fifing, drumming; Eyes are staring, hearts are stirred — For bold recruits the brave are coming, Ribands flaunting, feathers gay —
The sounds and sights are surely thrilling. Dazzled village youths to-day
Will crowd to take the Saxon Shilling.
Ye whose spirits will not bow
In peace to parish tyrants longer — Ye, who wear the villein brow,
And ye who pine in hopeless hunger — Fools, without the brave man's faith —
All slaves and starvelings who are willing To sell themselves to shame and death —
Accept the fatal Saxon Shilling.
1 Refers to the English custom when recruiting for the army. The acceptance of a shilling (twenty-five cents) from the recruiting sergeant constitutes the act of enlisting, and in the old days many a poor fellow has been so plied with drink that he has awakened from his sleep to find a shilling in his hand and the Queen's colours (ribbons of red, white, and blue) pinned to his hat or on his breast; sure signs that he had " 'listed for a soger," even though he had forgotten about it.—C. W. |
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