Mauley: The Brave Ferry-man Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCBDEFGDDHIJKD LMLNOPOPDQDR FSFSTUOUFUUU FUFUVOWUUUUU XYUNTZFZUUUU A2ZB2ZFUC2UUUFU BD2| NOTE The great Sioux massacre in Minnesota commenced | A |
| at the Agency village on the Minnesota River early in the | B |
| morning of the th day of August precipitated | C |
| doubtless by the murders at Acton on the day previous The | B |
| massacre and the Indian war that followed developed many | D |
| brave men but no truer hero than Mauley an obscure | E |
| Frenchman the ferry man at the Agency Continually under | F |
| fire he resolutely ran his ferry boat back and forth across | G |
| the river affording the terror stricken people the only | D |
| chance for escape He was shot down on his boat just as he | D |
| had landed on the opposite shore the last of those who fled | H |
| from the burning village to the ferry landing The Indians | I |
| disemboweled his dead body cut off the head hands and feet | J |
| and thrust them into the cavity See Heard's Hist Sioux | K |
| War p | D |
| - | |
| - | |
| Crouching in the early morning | L |
| Came the swarth and naked Sioux CF | M |
| On the village without warning | L |
| Fell the sudden savage blow | N |
| Horrid yell and crack of rifle | O |
| Mingle as the flames arise | P |
| With the tomahawk they stifle | O |
| Mothers' wails and children's cries | P |
| Men and women to the ferry | D |
| Fly from many a blazing cot | Q |
| Brave and ready grim and steady | D |
| Mauley mans the ferry boat | R |
| - | |
| Can they cross the ambushed river | F |
| 'Tis for life the only chance | S |
| Only this may some deliver | F |
| From the scalping knife and lance | S |
| Through the throng of wailing women | T |
| Frantic men in terror burst | U |
| Back ye cowards thundered Mauley | O |
| I will take the women first | U |
| Then with brawny arms and lever | F |
| Back the craven men he smote | U |
| Brave and ready grim and steady | U |
| Mauley mans the ferry boat | U |
| - | |
| To and fro across the river | F |
| Plies the little mercy craft | U |
| While from ambushed gun and quiver | F |
| On it falls the fatal shaft | U |
| Trembling from the burning village | V |
| Still the terror stricken fly | O |
| For the Indians' love of pillage | W |
| Stays the bloody tragedy | U |
| At the windlass bar bare headed | U |
| Bare his brawny arms and throat | U |
| Brave and ready grim and steady | U |
| Mauley mans the ferry boat | U |
| - | |
| Hark a sudden burst of war whoops | X |
| They are bent on murder now | Y |
| Down the ferry road they rally | U |
| Led by furious Little Crow | N |
| Frantic mothers clasp their children | T |
| And the help of God implore | Z |
| Frantic men leap in the river | F |
| Ere the boat can reach the shore | Z |
| Mauley helps the weak and wounded | U |
| Till the last soul is afloat | U |
| Brave and ready grim and steady | U |
| Mauley mans the ferry boat | U |
| - | |
| Speed the craft The fierce Dakotas | A2 |
| Whoop and hasten to the shore | Z |
| And a shower of shot and arrows | B2 |
| On the crowded boat they pour | Z |
| Fast it floats across the river | F |
| Managed by the master hand | U |
| Laden with a freight so precious | C2 |
| God be thanked it reaches land | U |
| Where is Mauley grim and steady | U |
| Shall his brave deed be forgot | U |
| Grasping still the windlass lever | F |
| Dead he lies upon the boat | U |
| - | |
| CF Pronounced Soo a name given to the Dakotas in early days by the | B |
| French traders | D2 |
Hanford Lennox Gordon
(1)
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