Nobles and beauties and such common toasts,
Those who admire may drink, sir;
Fill up the glass to the volunteer hosts,
Who never from danger will shrink, sir.
Let mirth appear,

Every heart cheer,

The toast that I give is the brave volunteer.

Here's to the squire who goes to parade
Here's to the citizen soldier;

Here's to the merchant who fights for his trade,
Whom danger increasing makes bolder.
Let mirth appear,

Union is here,

The toast that I give is the brave volunteer.

Here's to the lawyer, who, leaving the bar,
Hastens where honor doth lead, sir,
Changing the gown for the ensigns of war,
The cause of his country to plead, sir.
Freedom appears,

Every heart cheers,

And calls for the health of the law volunteers.

Here's to the soldier, though batter'd in wars,
And safe to his farm-house retir'd;

When called by his country, ne'er thinks of his scars,
With ardor to join us inspir'd.

Bright fame appears,

Trophies uprear,

To veteran chiefs who became volunteers.

Here's to the farmer who dares to advance
To harvests of honor with pleasure;
slave the most skilful in France,
A sword for his country would measure.

Who with

Hence with cold fear,

Heroes rise here;

The ploughman is chang'd to the stout volunteer.

Here's to the peer, first in senate and field,
Whose actions to titles add grace, sir;
Whose spirit undaunted would never yet yield
To a foe, to a pension or place, sir.
Gratitude here,

Toasts to the peer,

Who adds to his titles, "the brave volunteer."

Thus the bold bands for old Jersey's defence,

The muse hath with rapture review'd, sir; With our volunteer boys, as our verses commence, With our volunteer boys they conclude, sir. Discord or noise,

Ne'er damp our joys,

But health and success to the volunteer boys.

THE DANCE

[1781]

Cornwallis led a country dance,
The like was never seen, sir,
Much retrograde and much advance,
And all with General Greene, sir.

They rambled up and rambled down,
Join'd hands, then off they run, sir,
Our General Greene to Charlestown,
The earl to Wilmington, sir.

Greene, in the South, then danc'd a set,
And got a mighty name, sir,
Cornwallis jigg'd with young Fayette,
But suffer'd in his fame, sir.

Then down he figur'd to the shore,
Most like a lordly dancer,
And on his courtly honor swore,
He would no more advance, sir.

Quoth he, my guards are weary grown
With footing country dances,
They never at St. James's shone,

At capers, kicks or prances.

Though men so gallant ne'er were seen,
While sauntering on parade, sir,

Or wriggling o'er the park's smooth green,

Or at a masquerade, sir.

Yet are red heels and long-lac'd skirts,
For stumps and briars meet, sir?
Or stand they chance with hunting-shirts,
Or hardy veteran feet, sir?

Now hous'd in York he challeng'd all,

At minuet or all 'amande,

And lessons for a courtly ball,

His guards by day and night conn'd.

This challenge known, full soon there came, A set who had the bon ton,

De Grasse and Rochambeau, whose fame Fut brillant pour un long tems.

And Washington, Columbia's son,
Whom easy nature taught, sir,
That grace which can't by pains be won,
Or Plutus' gold be bought, sir.

Now hand in hand they circle round,
This ever-dancing peer, sir;

Their gentle movements, soon confound
The earl, as they draw near, sir.

HUGH HENRY BRACKENRIDGE

[Hugh Henry Brackenridge is notable as the author of the most popular book produced west of the Alleghanies before 1800. He was born in Scotland in 1748, but came to America when a boy. His family were in poor financial circumstances, but, largely through his own exertions, he was graduated from Princeton in 1771. His collaboration with his classmate Freneau in a commencement poem has already been mentioned. After his graduation he taught school, edited a magazine, studied divinity, and served as chaplain in the continental army. During this period he wrote a few popular patriotic poems, and delivered some patriotic sermons that were thought worthy of being published. Before the close of the war he turned to the study of law, and in 1781 he removed to Pittsburg. Here he became active in public affairs, and was perhaps unfortunately prominent in connection with the "Whiskey Insurrection" of 1794. The next year he published a long and elaborate "Vindication" of his conduct in connection with this affair. His most important work was "Modern Chivalry; containing the Adventures of a Captain and Teague O'Regan, his servant." The first part of this picturesque satire appeared in 1796, and the less important second part in 1806. The book is a western Don Quixote, and burlesques with western freedom, and in a manner that shows the western point of view, many political and social customs of the country.

The selections are from the Philadelphia edition of 1804.]

AN ANSWER TO A CHALLENGE

[From "Modern Chivalry"]

On reflection, it seemed advisable to the Captain to write an answer, to the card which Colonel or Major Jacko, or whatever his title may have been, had sent him this morning. It was as follows:

SIR,

I have two objections to this duel matter. The one is, lest I should hurt you; and the other is, lest you should hurt me. I do not see any good it would do me to put a bullet through any part of your body. I could make no use of you when dead, for any culinary purpose, as I would a rabbit or a turkey. I am no cannibal to feed on the flesh of men. Why then shoot down