Sodgers are sailin' Away to the wars; Ladies are wailin' Their woe to the stars; Why is the heart of you straying so soon-- Heart that was part of you, Eileen Aroon?
Lost to a sodger, Gone is my heart! Lost to a sodger, Now we must part---- I and my heart--for it journeys afar Along with the sodgers who sail to the war!
Tears that near blind me My pride shall dry,---- Wisha! don't mind me! Lave a lass cry! Only a sodger can whistle the tune That coaxes the heart out of Eileen Aroon!"
Almost instantly the audience had divined in the words she sang a significance which concerned them--a warning--perhaps a prophecy. The 69th Regiment of New York infantry was Irish, and nearly every seat in the hall held a relative of some young fellow serving in its ranks.
The applause was impulsive, stormy, persistent; the audience was demanding the young girl's recall; the noise they made became overwhelming, checking the mediating music and baffling the next embarrassed graduate, scheduled to read an essay, and who stood there mute, her manuscript in her hand.
Finally the principal of the school arose, went over to Dulcie, and exchanged a few words with her. Then he came forward, hand lifted in appeal for silence.
"The music and words of the little song you have just heard," he said, "were written, I have just learned, by the mother of the girl who sang them. They were written in Ireland a number of years ago, when Irish regiments were sent away for over-seas service. Neither words nor song have ever been published. Miss Soane found them among her mother's effects.
"I thought the story of the little song might interest you. For, somehow, I feel--as I think you all feel--that perhaps the day may come--may be near--when the hearts of our women, too, shall be given to their soldiers--sons, brothers, fathers--who are 'sailin' away to the wars.' But if that time comes--which God avert!--then I know that every man here will do his duty.... And every woman.... And I know that:
'Tears that near blind you, Your pride shall dry!----'"
"Miss Soane has prepared no song to sing as an encore. In her behalf, and in my own, I thank you for your appreciation. Be kind enough to permit the exercises to proceed."