son, Joseph Hale, lived at her grandfather's from
1784 till her marriage in 1799. Many years ago she
wrote to her cousin, "From my earliest recollection
I have felt a deep interest in that unfortunate
uncle. When his death or the manner of it was
spoken of, my grief would come forth in tears.
Living in the old homestead I frequently heard
allusions to him by the neighbors and persons that
worked in the family, much more so than by near
relatives. It seemed the anguish they felt did not
allow them to make it the subject of conversation.
Was it not so with your mother?"

Rev. Edward Everett Hale refers in a historical
address to the fact that in his own early days the
name of Nathan Hale was seldom mentioned in his
presence. We of to-day can but wish that somewhat
of the luster from the radiant halo that was to
encircle his memory and to grow brighter as the
years pass on, might have comforted them. Yet
each one of that sorrowing family has long since
learned to rejoice that, as nobly as any martyr
has ever died for his country, their lad went forth
into the eternities.

The poem which follows was published in "Songs
and Ballads of the Revolution," collected by
Mr. Frank Moore. It is not known when these
verses first appeared, but they are among the

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