Town and Country; Or, Life at Home and Abroad Part 15

Beneath their feet they saw their fetters laid.

'T was then they lifted their freed hands on high, And peans loud and long resounded through the sky.

Up, up they came, and still the bannered host

Far in the distance met my wondering eye; On hill and dale, on all New England's coast,

White banners waved beneath a cloudless sky.

The aged sire leaned on his oaken staff,

Manhood stood up in all its strength and pride, And youth came dancing with a joyous laugh,

With woman, lovely woman, at their side; Bright eyes, glad hearts, and joyous souls, were there, Free as the light that shone, unfettered as the air.

The mind, that spark of Deity within

That hath its nurture from a higher world, No longer bound by tyranny and sin,

Beheld its highest, n.o.blest powers unfurled.

No more did Error bind it to its creed,

Or Superst.i.tion strive to blind its sight; It followed only where G.o.d's truth did lead,

And trusted him to guide its course aright.

The inner as the outer man was free, And both united held this glorious jubilee.

--'T was all a vision, and it pa.s.sed away,

As dreams depart; yet it did leave behind Its deep impressions, thoughts that fain would stay

And hold communion with the tireless mind.

I wished that it were real; alas! I heard

The clank of Slavery's fetters rend the air; And feelings of my heart were deeply stirred,

When I beheld my brethren, who dare Proclaim all "equal," yet in chains of steel Bind men, who, like themselves, can pain and pleasure feel.

G.o.d in his wisdom meant all should be free,

All equal: each a brother unto man.

Presumptuous mortal! who His great decree

Durst strive to change to suit thy selfish plan!

Know thou that his fixed purpose will be done,

Though thou arrayest all thy puny strength In war against it! All who feel the sun

Shall own his goodness, and be free at length.

G.o.d cares for mortals, though he reigns on high; Freedom is His own cause, and it shall never die!

My country! if my heart one wish doth hold,

For thee and for thy good, it is that thou No more permit thy children to be sold!

Forbid that they as slaves to man shall bow!

For them our fathers n.o.bly fought and bled;

For them they poured their life-blood forth as rain; Shall it in foreign lands of us be said,

We bind our brothers with a galling chain?

While the Old World is struggling to be free, America! shall this foul charge be laid to thee?

We all may err; may oft be led astray;

Let him who'd free the slave be careful he Is not a slave himself to some fond way

He would adopt to set his brother free!

All seek one end; for all one good would gain;

Then, on as brothers, hand in hand proceed!

Paths that seem intricate will all be plain,

If we but follow where G.o.d's truth would lead.

Trust Him for strength in darkness and in light; His word will cheer us on,--His presence give us might.

SONG OF THE BIRD.

ON the topmost branch of the highest tree I sit and sing, I am free! I am free!

When the lightnings flash, when the thunders roar, I plume my wings and away I soar!

But soon on the branch of a lofty tree Gayly I sing, I am free! I am free!

A huntsman he came by my nest one day, And thought that with gun my song he would stay; But I left my nest when he thought me there, And I roamed about in my native air.

Then, when he was gone, on the highest tree Gayly I sung, I am free! I am free!

It is I, 't is I, that at dawn of day Go to meet the sun at its earliest ray.

I love its heat; so I cheer it along With chirping notes and melodious song; And all the day on the highest tree Gayly I sing, I am free! I am free!

When the dusky shades of the night appear, In my nest on high I have naught to fear; Sweetly I slumber till dawning of day, Then to the East, for the sun, I'm away, Till, borne on its rays to the highest tree, Gayly I sing, I am free! I am free!

O, I love my nest, and my nest loves me!

It rocks like a bark on the dancing sea; Gently it bows when I wish to retire; When in, it rises higher and higher.

O, I love my nest, and I love the tree, Home and the haunt of the bird that is free!

I CHANGE BUT IN DYING.