Story Lovers World PAUL REVERE'S "MIDNIGHT RIDE"
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PAUL REVERE'S "MIDNIGHT RIDE" Scroll down or click on your choice below
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THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1861)
Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year
He said to his friend, -- "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light, --
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm."
Then he said good-night, and with muffled oar
Silently rowed to the Charlestown shore,
Just as the moon rose over the bay,
Where swinging wide at her moorings lay
The Somersett, British man-of-war:
A phantom ship, with each mast and spar
Across the moon, like a prison-bar,
And a huge, black hulk, that was magnified
By its own reflection in the tide.
Meanwhile, his friend, through alley and street
Wanders and watches with eager ears,
Till in the silence around him he hears
The muster of men at the barrack-door,
The sound of arms, and the tramp of feet,
And the measured tread of the grenadiers
Marching down to their boats on the shore.
Then he climbed to the tower of the church,
Up the wooden stairs, with stealthy tread,
To the belfry-chamber overhead,
And startled the pigeons from their perch
On the sombre rafters, that round him made
Masses and moving shapes of shade, --
Up the light ladder, slender and tall,
To the highest window in the wall,
Where he paused to listen and look down
A moment on the roofs of the town,
And the moonlight flowing over all.
Beneath, in the churchyard, lay the dead
In their night-encampment on the hill,
Wrapped in silence so deep and still,
That he could hear, like a sentinel's tread,
The watchful night-wind, as it went
Creeping along from tent to tent,
And seeming to whisper, "All is well!"
A moment only he feels the spell
Of the place and the hour, the secret dread
Of the lonely belfry and the dead;
For suddenly all his thoughts are bent
On a shadowy something far away,
Where the river widens to meet the bay, --
A line of black, that bends and floats
On the rising tide, like a bridge of boats.
Meanwhile, impatient to mount and ride,
Booted and spurred, with a heavy stride,
On the opposite shore walked Paul Revere
Now he patted his horse's side,
Now gazed on the landscape far and near,
Then impetuous stamped the earth,
And turned and tightened his saddle-girth;
But mostly he watched with eager search
The belfry-tower of the old North Church,
As it rose above the graves on the hill,
Lonely, and spectral, and sombre, and still.
And lo! as he looks, on the belfry's height,
A glimmer, and then a gleam of light!
He springs to the saddle, the bridle he turns,
But lingers and gazes, till full on his sight
A second lamp in the belfry burns!
A hurry of hoofs in a village-street,
A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark,
And beneath from the pebbles, in passing, a spark
Struck out by a steed that flies fearless and fleet:
That was all! And yet, through the gloom and the light,
The fate of a nation was riding that night;
And the spark struck out by that steed, in his flight,
Kindled the land into flame with its heat.
It was twelve by the village-clock,
When he crossed the bridge into Medford town.
He heard the crowing of the cock,
And the barking of the farmer's dog,
And felt the damp of the river-fog,
That rises when the sun goes down.
It was one by the village-clock,
When he rode into Lexington.
He saw the gilded weathercock
Swim in the moonlight as he passed,
And the meeting-house windows, blank and bare,
Gaze at him with a spectral glare,
As if they already stood aghast
At the bloody work they would look upon.
It was two by the village-clock,
When be came to the bridge in Concord town.
He heard the bleating of the flock,
And the twitter of birds among the trees,
And felt the breath of the morning-breeze
Blowing over the meadows brown.
And one was safe and asleep in his bed
Who at the bridge would be first to fall,
Who that day would be lying dead,
Pierced by a British musket-ball.
You know the rest. In the books you have read
How the British regulars fired and fled, --
How the farmers gave them ball for ball,
From behind each fence and farmyard-wall,
Chasing the red-coats down the lane,
Then crossing the fields to emerge again
Under the trees at the turn of the road,
And only pausing to fire and load.
So through the night rode Paul Revere;
And so through the night went his cry of alarm
To every Middlesex village and farm, --
A cry of defiance, and not of fear, --
A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,
And a word that shall echo forevermore!
For, borne on the night-wind of the Past,
Through all our history, to the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will waken and listen to hear
The hurrying hoof-beat of that steed,
And the midnight-message of Paul Revere.
Book titles are in blue and underlined. Click on them to get more information.
To retell any stories, get permission from the copyright holder if the material is not in the public domain.
In performance, always credit your sources.
Alphabetized with short descriptions for your convenience and to save you research time.
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And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? (Paperstar) by Jean Fritz. (1998 - Ages 9-12)Everyone knows about Paul Revere’s midnight ride. But not everyone knows the harrowing details and narrow escapes that occurred along the way. This timeless and witty book highlights little-known facts about patriot Paul Revere. |
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Paul Revere (Rookie Biographies) by Wil Mara. (2005 - Ages 4-8)Presents a brief look at the life of Paul Revere |
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Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. (1996 - Ages 9-12)Longfellow's classic tribute to the famous revolutionary hero is brought to vivid life by luminous paintings that follow the journey of a daring man riding on horseback under the full moon. |
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Paul Revere's Ride (Our American Story) by Lori Mortensen. (2009 - Ages 4-8)The British are coming! And only one man can warn the Colonists Paul Revere! But will Paul and his horse sound the alarm in time? Here’s the story. |
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Picture Book of Paul Revere (A) (Picture Book Biography)
by David A. Adler. (1998-Ages 4-8)He was a silversmith and soldier before his famous ride to Lexington. |
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FACTS AND FICTION ABOUT AND BEHIND PAUL REVERE'S "MIDNIGHT RIDE" — FOR ADULTS
Online links are in blue and underlined. Click on them for more information.
Short descriptions are included for your convenience and to save you research time.
Additional links are added as they are received by Story Lovers World.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere
Paul Revere - posted by Wikipedia.org. Includes early years, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (myths and legends), war years, later years, places and institutions named for Paul Revere, notes, references and external links.
• http://www.hwlongfellow.org/works_paul_reveres_ride.shtml
"Paul Revere's Ride" - from the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow website from the Maine Historical Society. Excerpt: "Paul Revere's Ride" is one of Longfellow's best known and most widely read poems. First published on the eve of the American Civil War and later the opening tale of the 22 linked narratives that comprise Longfellow's Tales of a Wayside Inn, the poem rescued a minor figure of the Revolutionary War from obscurity and made him into a national hero...
(For the rest of this discussion, click on the website above)
• http://tinyurl.com/4tbg3dg
"Why Do We Remember Revere? Paul Revere's Ride in History and Literature" - Lesson Plans for Grades 6-8 from EDSITEment!, The Best of the Humanities on the Web, National Endowment for the Humanities.
Excerpt: "In his account of his famous ride, Paul Revere described the impetus for his journey: "…I was sent for by Dr. Joseph Warren, of said Boston, on the evening of the 18th of April, about 10 o'clock; when he desired me, 'to go to Lexington, and inform Mr. Samuel Adams, and the Hon. John Hancock Esq.'" Though the lantern signal from Christ Church had been Revere's idea, he never mentions seeing it, though he does go on to say, "I set off, it was then about 11 o'clock, the moon shone bright." Anyone who learned the story from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow heard it told a little differently. Virtually all students, at one point or another in their schooling, are exposed to Longfellow's ballad, "Paul Revere's Ride." How accurate is it? Is it responsible for Revere's ride achieving such iconic status?..."
(For the rest of this article, click on the website above)
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http://www.earlyamerica.com/lives/revere/chapt3/
"The True Story of Paul Revere: Chapter 3: The Midnight Ride of April 18, 1775" by Charles Gettemy. Posted by earlyamerica.com.
Excerpt: "BOSTON was in a ferment during the winter of 1774-1775. The long series of grievances endured from the mother country had led to the adoption of the Suffolk Resolves in September. In October the provincial congress was organized, with Hancock as president; a protest was sent to the royal governor remonstrating against his hostile attitude, and a committee of public safety was provided for. In February this committee was named, delegates were selected for the next continental congress, and provision was made for the establishment of the militia. Efforts made by the patriots and to disband the militia had proved futile, and the fire of opposition to the indignities heaped upon the people by the crown was kept alive by secret organizations. " Sons of Liberty" met in clubs and caucuses, the group which gathered at the Green Dragon Tavern being the most famous. They were composed chiefly of young artisans and mechanics from ranks of people, who, in rapid succession of events, were becoming more and more restive under the British yoke..."
(For the rest of this article, click on the website above)
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http://tinyurl.com/4zpfuo8
"Spotty History, Maybe, but Great Literature" by John J. Miller. Posted by The Wall Street Journal in December 2010.
Excerpt: Hardly a man is now alive who hasn't encountered the opening lines of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's most famous poem: "Listen, my children, and you shall hear / Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere."
Before the original publication of "Paul Revere's Ride"—today is the 150th anniversary of its appearance in a Boston newspaper—Revere's story went mostly unheard. The folk hero of the American Revolution was only half-remembered in Massachusetts and almost totally forgotten everywhere else. It took the poetic craft of Longfellow to rescue Revere from obscurity, transforming him into the patriotic icon he remains today...
(For the rest of this article, click on the website above)
• http://tinyurl.com/4mngv7l
Thousands of Google images depicting Paul Revere and his ride.
PAUL REVERE AND HIS "MIDNIGHT RIDE" - FOR KIDS
Online links are in blue and underlined. Click on them for more information.
Short descriptions are included for your convenience and to save you research time.
Additional links are added as they are received by Story Lovers World.
• http://www.biography.com/articles/Paul-Revere-192838
Paul Revere Biography (1735 - 1818) - Kids' Version. Posted by biography.com.
Includes videos narrated by historians, professors and teachers.
Links to "Related People": Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere.
Links to "Related Sites": Visit the home of Paul Revere; learn more about revolutionary times; Paul Revere's personal account of the night of April 18, 1775; Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem (text).
• http://www.biography.com/bio4kids/bio4kids-meet-paul-revere.jsp
"Paul Revere - 1735-1818)" - posted by Bio4Kids. Biography of Revere.
• http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/paulreveredef.htm
Social Studies for Kids: Home, Fun Facts, Glossaries, Newsletter, FAW, Forum. "Who/What/Where/When": Paul Revere. Posted by socialstudiesforkids.com.
Excerpt: Famous silversmith who rode through the countryside to warn the American colonists that the British were coming. He didn't actually make his destination because he was captured by British "Redcoats," but one of his companions, Dr. Samuel Prescott, got the message through. When the British arrived, the Americans were ready...
Links to information about the 13 Colonies, American Revolution, Revolutionary War, About Paul Revere, Colonial America and Elsewhere on the Web.
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http://www.paulreverehouse.org/kids/
"The Paul Revere House" - postsed by paulreverehouse.org. Includes Activities, articles for kids, To Learn More, Contests, Gift Shop, and "Play a Part in History."
• http://www.paulreverehouse.org/kids/reverechildren.shtml
"The Revere Children" - posted by paulreverehouse.org. Includes Fun and Games in the 1700s; Five Stones; and Jack Straws or Pick-Up Sticks.
• http://www.surfnetkids.com/go/64/ten-facts-about-paul-revere/
"Ten Facts About Paul Revere" - posted by surfnetkids.com. Includes The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere; Battles of Lexington and Concord;
Craftsman; Manufacturing; War experience; Sons of Liberty; Committee of Public Safety; The Hero; Revere's run in with the British; and Longfellow. Additional links to websites about Paul Revere.
Created 2011; last update 3/27/11
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