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41.

Once in the summer of '57? there came along a troupe of singers call the "The Continentals" who gave public entertainments in the old Continental Uniforms. Some of them were collegiate on a vacation tour and having a purpose to earn some money for their college expenses. One of these was the son of an Episcopal bishop and all of them were well bred young men. They were led by a professional instructor of vocal music named Franklin from Boston? and sang patriotic songs, glees, solos, and choruses in the most enchanting manner. Fitz Lee, Jackson and myself who were in the habit of attempting something of this sort in a modest? way as a trio were captivated by the singers and had them out to the garrison, learned some of their songs and listened with unspeakable delight to some of their best selections as they rendered them in the quiet summer moonlight before Colonel May's house and other married officer' quarters. Colonel May would have undertaken to defend Bunker Hill single handed and alone had there been any occasion of that kind on hand after listening to their song of its "Sword?." As it was, he surrendered, lighted up his house and had us all in at midnight for a glass of champagne. And when they chanted "The Raven" in front of Maury's. I remember Fitz Lee lying on the grass and quietly? clutching it and pulling it up by the roots in the ? of his enjoyment?.