In the poem "Barbara Frietchie," which event happened before Barbara leaned out her window-sill? Barbara Frietchie’s work is o’er,/ And the Rebel rides on his raids no more. Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,/ Bowed with her fourscore years and ten; Over Barbara Frietchie’s grave/ Flag of Freedom and Union, wave! All day long that free flag tost/ Over the heads of the rebel host.

Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,/ Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;

Explanation:

The poem tells the story of an old woman named Barbara Frietchie who did not oblige the Confederate forces by lowering her American flag when they came to Maryland where she lived.

She was very bold as can be seen in her action of picking up an American flag and hanging it over her roof top for everyone to see. In the poem, she is first described as rising up. This is then followed by a description of her age which showed that she was an advanced woman.

- "the die is cast; i have consented to return if we are not destroyed. thus are my hopes blasted by cowardice and indecision; i come back ignorant and disappointed. it requires more philosophy than i possess to bear this injustice with patience. i have lost my hopes of utility and glory; i have lost my friend."