.Ml 



i 



-/< ■: 



Sffi 



When grandaddy died it was willed to my 

 father, 

 An' when he in turn was jes' passin' 

 away 

 He asked that his loved ones might every 

 one gather 

 About him to hear the last words he 

 would say. 

 He tol' me to take the ol* rifle, an' ever 

 Preserve the proud record she'd already 

 won, 

 An' if I should ever be called on, to give 

 her 

 New laurels to wear; an' he added, 

 "My son, 

 If the flag of our country is ever assailed, 

 Jes' shoulder ol' Bess, fur she never yit 

 failed." 



All through the bloody rebellion I bore her, 

 Follered Berdan in the sharpshooter 

 ranks ; 

 Many a reb fell a writhin' before her, 



An' slid into silence a cussin' the Yanks. 

 Thar in her ol' walnut stock is a furrow 



Made by a bullet a Southerner shot; 

 I sent another right where it would burrow 

 Clear out o' sight in his temple o' 

 thought. 

 See that dark stain? That is blood from 



my breast, 

 Come from whar traitorous lead found a 

 nest. 



That's the gun, stranger. Jes' look her 

 all over ; 

 Now do you wonder why she is my 

 pride? 

 Now do you wonder I bless her an' love 

 her 

 More than all else in the universe wide? 

 Grandaddy packed her when Washin'ton ;< 

 led 'em ; 

 In Eighteen and Twelve father tuk her 

 along; 

 I 'gainst our brothers down South, an' I 

 fed 'em 

 Lead in small doses, but powerful strong. 

 An', stranger, if war ever hits us ag'in, 

 I've got a big kid as kin shoot her like sin ! 

 VS 



H,J 



'i/y > 





If 



