Hark! what's that that bursts on the midnight air

Hark! what's that that bursts on the midnight air? "The Cadets are loose," said a lady fair. "Cadets loose?" echoed her puzzled spouse, As he rose in haste and donned his clothes.

From "Siege Gun Battery" came a roar That echoed back from shore to shore, Rumbling along under old Cro' Nest, And sunk in the far-off hills to rest.

Just at this juncture came pouring forth From every window in the north Of the Barrack building grim and gray, And chased the moonbeams out of the way,

The grandest sight that ever was seen, Or ever will be again, I ween,— Rockets, Roman Candles and Blue Lights clear, To welcome in the glad New Year.

With the booming of cannon and grand "fish-horn" Eighteen hundred and eighty was born; This fine little fellow was ushered in With rocket's roar and fish-horn's din.

What means this noise and running around, Looking for something that's not to be found? For every door was relieved of its handle By some friend, of course, surely not by a vandal,

To keep intruders who were stalking around From wakening the boys who were sleeping so sound, Dreaming of fish-horns and other such things That Santa Claus always to the children brings.