The Yankee Champion — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ > "> EE > am . - 7 -— & + ae s a ey . .w . kr bs P it, ‘ > ; oY - P aJ - , * < sn he o ee es THE YANKEE CHAMPION. nc $e “T believe you, Walter. And now the horizon of our country’s affairs betokens that a strife is at hand which must either end in American independ- ence, or in the lasting curse of England’s iron rule. It depends upon America’s young sons to decide what shall be the fate of coming generations on our native soil. Promise me, my child, that when that struggle comes, your sword shall not rest till death.”’ ‘I do promise it,’’ exclaimed the young man, as he raised his eyes toward heaven; ‘‘and as I hope for salvation hereafter I will be true to that prom- ise.”’ “‘“Amen!’’ responded the old man, and as he spoke he stretched forth his hand, and laid it upon the weapon. ‘“‘Walter,’’ he continued, ‘‘never think of exchanging that sword fora better, for a better is not to be found in the country. It is old, and it has seen service, and its worth has been proved. That | steel is as fine as a diamond’s point, and is as subtle as the finest temper of Damascus can make it. Kneel down, my boy, kneel down.”’’ Walter sank upon his knees at his father’s bed- side, and the old man placed his hand upon his head. ‘‘God bless you, my boy, ‘and give you strength to do your duty; and when you lie at the point of death, as I do now, may you be able to look back upon the past, and call up in your mind the memory of your deeds, without one blush of shame, or one single regret. Bless you, bless you, my noble boy.”’ The old man gazed fondly upon his son, but he seemed too weak to speak. The excitement of the forenoon had kept his spirits up, but now the physi- our land is free, or till your arm is stiffened in ~ comicbooks.co