A Ballad of Bravery.
I. M.
Daniel Periton.
Died at Johnstown 1889.
One dreams it were not hard to
die1
If then one’s country came2
And brought—upon one’s grave to lie—3
The flaunting flowers of fame.4
Yet Fame is fleeting after all,5
And one would rather have6
The tears of those one loves to fall7
Upon one’s new-made grave.8
But it were best of all to give9
One’s life up freely, when10
One knows one’s name may never live11
As one who died for men.12
There was a man—I know not, I,13
His station or his story—14
What matter they ? I know him by15
His deed’s undying glory.16
I know his name and nothing more—17
To know the rest, what need ?18
What care we what life went before19
That life’s immortal deed ?20
The reservoir above the town21
Was swollen with the rains :22
Those who said ‘ Danger ! ’ got a frown,23
Or laughter, for their pains.24
Yet, by a leaky dam pent back25
For rich men’s pleasures, sleep26
Three miles of water, still and black,27
And very, very deep !28
And from the skies and from the hills29
The water still pours down,30
And the lake slowly, slowly fills31
That hangs above the town.32
There was no thought of danger there :33
They loved and laughed and wed ;34
They kissed, because young love was fair,35
And wept when love was dead.36
And little children laughed and played37
Round happy mothers’ knees,38
Who smiled to see them, undismayed39
Ry all life’s mysteries.40
And men spent life and gathered gold,41
And toiled for babes and wife,42
And the sweet story still was told43
That is as old as life.44
Till, one bright evening, calm and still45
The quiet valley lay,46
And every peak and point and hill47
Glowed in the dying day,48
When, sudden, down the peaceful street49
A sound of hoofs rang clear—50
A horseman galloped furious, fleet,51
Shouting for all to hear :52
‘ The floods are out ! They’re on us ! Fly !53
Fly to the hills ! ’ he cried.54
The town’s-folk laughed and mocked his cry,55
And jeered as they replied :56
‘ Yes, when we see the water ! ’ ‘ Fly ! ’57
The rider cried again.58
‘ Fly ! ’ echo cried as he tore by,59
And still he rode amain,60
He fled not to the hills, but on61
He down the valley pressed.62
Though these were lost, some might be won—63
He still might save the rest !64
All laughed and mocked—their bitter word65
Pursued him like the wind.66
One threw a stone at him—he heard67
It strike the road behind.68
His heart grew big, his eyes grew dim,69
He cast one look the way70
Where, on the hills, life beckoned him,71
And hope and safety lay—72
Then spurred again his horse’s side,73
All streaked with foam and sweat :74
‘ Oh, God ! let them believe ! ’ he cried,75
‘ And let me save them yet ! ’76
(Ever such face hath fortune worn77
To saint and hero brave—78
Stoned, mocked, and martyred, laughed to scorn79
By those they sought to save.80
Their visions mocked by this world’s gloom,81
Their sacrifice despised,82
And, worst of all, those lost for whom83
Their lives were sacrificed.84
A curse they hear in man’s last word,85
But God’s first smile who sees ?86
We only see such deaths preferred87
To any life by these !)88
He rode on, fast as fire. Still ‘ Fly ! ’89
He shouted—heard them say,90
‘ The man is mad or drunk, else why91
Foretell a flood to-day ? ’92
A sudden thunderous crash ! Then all93
Men’s hearts forgot to beat.94
Forty feet high, a water wall95
Came sweeping down the street !96
‘ Now to the hills ! The flood ! ’ they cry.97
Too late ! Your chance is done—98
The roaring water surges by,99
And lo ! your town is gone !100
A moment since, your town was there,101
A happy human nest ;102
Now waters wide sweep on and bear103
Its ruin on their breast.104
There is no town now, but instead105
The waning light is shed106
On the advancing water, spread107
With dying and with dead.108
As thick they lie as blossoms be109
Upon a summer pool,110
Where children shake the hawthorn tree111
As they go home from school.112
On, on the water sweeps. Men drown—113
Float—lashed to wandering spars.114
A mother lets her children down115
Through their close nursery bars.116
Drowned—drowned—all drowned ! The mother lives117
To curse too constant life.118
A raft, a plank, a house-roof gives119
A hope for child or wife.120
Till, ere men sink, they see life’s light121
Swept by—crushed out—sucked down,122
And see dear weak ones sink from sight123
Before strong men can drown.124
Houses and churches, bridge and boat,125
And thousand clinging lives,126
Wild masses on the torrent, float—127
Babes, mothers, sweethearts, wives !128
Cry out to God, oh ! ye who can,129
Before your doom shall fall,130
And pray that He will save the man131
Who tried to save you all.132
There is no tongue can dare speak out,133
No pen may dare to write,134
No heart may bear to think about135
The horrors of that night !136
The whole town—crushed like splintered toys137
Against the bridge—caught flame !138
There are no words for those wrecked joys,139
Those horrors have no name.140
We sit in sheltered homes to-night,141
With little ones at play ;142
We can but clasp the children tight,143
And turn our heads away !144
For, when the morning broke again,145
Then every bank was strewn146
With corpses. There came frantic men147
To search for those they’d known.148
And little children, motherless !149
And mothers, almost wild,150
Who in and out the ruins press—151
‘ My child—my little child ! ’152
‘ My man is dead ; ’ ‘ Where is my wife ? ’153
‘ My lad is lost,’ they call.154
‘ His sweetheart’s found.’ Oh, cruel life !155
Why not let death take all ?156
But, when the crash of death swept down,157
One life at least was spared ?158
The man who rode to warn the town,159
The man who did and dared ?160
No ; death was kind, and let him go,161
When life was at its height.162
No baser flame his soul will know163
Than burned in it that night.164
To do brave deeds for desperate needs165
Life’s crown of glory is.166
God ! give me voice to sing such deeds,167
And be my end like his !168