Benjamin Cutler Clark - The Past, Present and Future in Prose and Poetry (Microform) (1867)

M-
THE
PAST, PRESENT,
AND FUTURE.
IN PROSE
AND POETRY.
By
JB.
CLAEK,
Sex.,
YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.
TORONTO:
ADAM, STEVENSON, &
1867.
CO.,
PUBLISHERS.
Entered, ai'cordinj: to Act of roiiRress, in the year 1804, by Cakoune Clark, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States,
in
and for the Eastern District of Michigan.
PREFACE.
Tins
is
truly an
age of
progress and
Im-
provement.
Without method, the following
thoughts on the Past, Present, and Future,
and the Poems contained in

were thrown together at such
this little
leisure
Work,
Author
moments
when
to
life's
cares
and duties
allowêd the
commune with himself.

that
The only apology he
has to offer for the appearance of this

is,
Work
it
may
possibly assist in swelling the
tone of righteous indignation against a system

of oppression, cruelty, and wrong, which has
degraded a large portion of the

with which the writer
publication, this
is
human
family,
is identified.
If,
by
its
in
any wise accomplished, the

whatever criticism
Author
he
will patiently bear
may
the
be exposed
friends
of
to,
under the impression

will
that
humanity
not too
severely deal
perfect,
is
with that which,
though im-
at least well intended.
B.
CLARK,
Sen.
CONTENTS.

VI
CONTENTS.
XLV. Odk,
XLVI. Forget
XLVII.
....
Thee,
upoit beincj
PAGE
130
132
134
asked to Write IN AN Album, by Mish A. C. C, XLVIIT. Lines on the .Death of a Child J. W., AGED 11 Years, XLIX. Who hath Courage? Years, L. Cheer Up, LI. LII. The Pauper's Grave, LIII. The Crisis, LIV. An Acrostic, LV. Requiescat in Pace. On t HE Death of Caroline Millen Clark, LVI. Pilgrim, LVII. No Energy, LVIII. Acrostic, A. C. C.,. LIX. An Epitaph on my Dog Turk, LX. Do THEY Miss Me? A Parody, LXI. Gossip,
To Write:
136
137
....
.
. . .
140
140
142 144 146 147
149
151
.... ....
153 154
155
157
LXII. LXIII.
Love,
160
161
LXIV.
On THE Times, Meet in Heaven,

Be Joyful: Dedicated to the First Colored Regiment of Michigan,
163
LXV.
165
AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
The
undersigned makes no pretension to educa-
tion whatever,
having received but

s tuition
little
more
than one year
at school in his life.
Indeed, he can well remember when, in the city
where he was born, an admiration would be
made when one
of his class
would be found who

Born, therefore, in
,
could read in a newspaper.
a slave State in the city of
of parents,
on the one
side,
who,
like
many
others,
had the
good fortune
to
become emancipated
after
more
than thirty years of unrequited
toil,
he
may
well ask an apology, not only for the imperfections in this little work, but for appearing before
the public in the character of an
Author
at
all.
He
removed from
there
into the
State of
Pennsylvania, raised a large family of children.
8
niul
(liiriiiii tlie
AiroinoiJiJAi'iiv.
few loisnro momojits
lliat
could
life,
tlils
be spared from the ordiiuiry avocations of
penned the Prose and Poetrv comprised

book.
in
Not from
a
felt
desire
of
notoriety,
bnt
having seen and
some of the blessings of

if
the "peculiar institution,"
blessings they be;
and being
identified with his brethren
who
are
suffering, in
some of the States of the Union,
a worse than Egyptian bondage;

desire to assist in
an
earnest
sweUing
tlie tide
of righteous
indignation against a system of oppression and
wrong
inflicted
upon a helpless and inoffensive

is
portion of his brethren,
his only apology for
appearing before the public.
He
is
well aware
that he renders liimself liable to the sneers of
some, and the severe criticism of
<others;
but
under an impression that what he has written
may
do some good, he willingly awaits the

himself the
public's
issue,
and subscribes
servant,
.
humble
B.
CLARK,
Sen.
THE
PAST, PRESENT,
AND FUTURE.
INTRODUCTORY.
From
time almost immemorial, the question of
man's present and future existence on earth,

has been, and continues to be, a matter of the
deepest interest.
Notwithstanding that more
than eighteen hundred years have elapsed, and

although
we
are near the terminus of the nine-
teenth centuiy of the Christian era, and that
more than
ninety thousand
millions
of the
human
race have died, yet man's present existstill
ence and future destiny

in mystery.
remain shrouded
past,
We
have seen the
we
B
are
10
INTRODUCTORY.
its
surrounded by the present, and
indications
greatly alarm us for the dark and mysterious

future.
It
is
not therefore mere idle curiosity
that induces the author to publish the present
work; but claiming a right to think, he claims

an equal right to pen those thoughts for the
consideration of his fellow-men.
In entering then upon a discussion of the

past, present,
is
and future
state of the world, it

if
not to be expected that he would, even

able, give
he were
its
more than a mere glimpse
at
history;
the
reader will not be surprised
therefore to find
many
things entirely omitted,
and others but
partially hinted at.
11
PART
I.
THE
In the
PAST.
past history of mankind,
we
find
what
has been called the Golden Age, established by

the renowned
Nimrod of
antiquity,
whose govis
ernment was styled Chaldean, and which

graphically prefigured
so
by the great Hebrew
prophet.
"God,"
says the prophet, "has given
thee
kingdom, whose
supremacy
resides, so
extends
wherever the human race

that head of gold."
thou art
In the land of Shinah or

city
Chaldea stood the famous
of Babylon,
founded by Nimrc>d about twenty-two hundred
and forty-seven years

to
distinction
before Christ.
It arose
under Semiramis, an African
female conqueress of celebrity, and was further

embellished
Its walls
its
by Nebuchadnezzar,
its
proud king.
were three hundred

its
feet high; it
its
had
marble quarries,
river banks,
temple
12
of Belus,
THE
and
also
PAST.
palaces and
its
hanging
of
its
gardens, constructed for the
pleasure
of
queen.
The Chaldeans were
the African
race; their shepherds acquired a knowledge of
the stars while "watching their flocks by night;"
and
to
them
are
we indebted
for that beautiful
and God-like science called astronomy.

idolatrous lives
acts, will
Their
their licentious
and voluptuous
of their
here be omitted.
The length
national existence has been variously estimated
by
different chronologists
let it suffice
to say,
that after ruling the earth, and fulfilling the
great destiny of their existence,
viz.,
the chas-
tisement of the chosen people of God, and their
own
chastisement,
in
their
turn,
for
their
finally
wickedness and disobedience,
they were
subjugated under the reign of their proud and
haughty monarch, Eelshazzar, by the famous
Mede and
Persian general, Darius, the son of
Ahazuerus the Artaxerxes of the Scriptures.
The Medes and
Persians then became masters
THE
of the world,
Jiiid
PAST.
it
13
accordingly in
governed
their turn; bnt
how
wisely and
how
well, the
it is
reader
may
learn
by referring
to history, as
not
my
purpose to enter into their national
career from Darius
down
to their subjugation
by the Greek
general,
or
the
"rough goat
of Grecia," as stated
by the same great pro-
phet of the Scriptures.

the famous
But the Greeks, under
Alexander, son of Philip of Aface-
don, then became master of the

Persians.
for
its
Medes and
Greece soon was rendered famous

polity,
its
its
civil
learning,
its
military
])rowess,
and
conquest over ancient Egypt,

division of its
which thereupon became a

})ire.
emits
Its
Spartan valour
is
notorious; and
Olympic games were
instituted fourteen
hundred
various
and
fifty
years
before
Christ.
Its
kings raised Athens to an unprecedented degree of civilization.
"Cadrus, the
last
Athen-
ian king, abolished royalty about ten hundred
and sixty-nine years before Christ."
Corinth,

14
THE
PAST.
a city of Greece, was handsomely built and

beautifully adorned;
and within
its
precincts a
thousand virgins were said to be prostituted,

e^'ery year, to the
god Venus,
which
city
is
not
incredible
when we compare that
with our
modern Corinths of the present day.

it
However,
was
to its inhabitants that the great Apostle
of the Gentiles addressed his epistles.

destruction of
The
Troy
the seduction of Helen

by Hector, of Hector
the death of Patroculus
by
Achilles,
and of Achilles by Paris

its
are
with
Until
important events in
history, together
many
it
others that I cannot here mention.

finally
was
overthrown by the stern iron

prefigured
government,
by the prophet
as
^'a great beast arising
out of the sea, having
seven heads and ten horns," and having the
cognomen of the Roman government, founded

by Romulus about seven hundred and
years before Christ,
fifty-two
its
history has been one
of oppression, cruelty, and wrong; of conquest,
THE
rapine, war,
isted as a
PAST.
15
and bloodshed.
Rome
proper ex-
monarchy under Tarquin and others

under Caesar, Pompey, and
as a triumverate
Crassus; as a republic under the lead of Appius,

Sextus, Manlius, and others; and at the time
when Jesus
made
his
Christ, the Saviour of
mankind,
appearance on earth, as was predicted

then
four thousand years before, the
known
world was
fectly
at
subject to the
peace,
empire,
and per-
an
But
unusual
hail
thing,
fire,
under
mingled
Augustus
Csesar.
and
with blood, was in the cup which Rome, pagan
and papal,
for her pride,
oppression, cruelty,
to drink out of.
and wickedness, was destined
The
Barbarians under the celebrated Genseric,
and the Goths and Vandals directed by the

bold and daring Alaric, strewed devastation
and death
in their paths, until
Rome, Corinth,
almost
Argus, and Sparta,

resistance,
yielded
without
and numbers of their inhabitants
were saved by death from witnessing the slavery
U)
THE PAST.
of their families, and the conflagration of their

cities.
Thus, while the State was exhausted

distracted,
and the Church

followers
"Mohammed, whose
were taught
to believe that every dro})
of l)lood shed in battle would secure eternal

salvation," with the sword in one
hand and the
koran in the other, erected his throne on the

ruins of Christianity.
Thus
fell
the
it
Roman
esta-
Empire
])roper, whilst
a branch of
was
blished on the British Island, for
it is
"The
blood of Romans, Saxons, Gaiib, and Danes,

the
Britisli
Fills the rich tribute of
veins;"
which
blood has spread over Europe, over
America, and over the Islands of the Seas.
From
Alfred to Victoria, through a long line
of kings, queens, despotisms,
and tyrannies, we
in almost
have seen convulsion after convulsion
rapid succession, "like the line of shadowing
monarchs before the vision of Macbeth."
So
much
for the Past.
17
PAM
II.
THE PRESENT.
We
and
til at
now
enter upon the Present; yet so inis
timately connected
so
the present with the past,

is
dependent on the past
the future,
in the
in recalling the history of
mankind
one,
we
shall necessarily
be obliged to revert to
is
the other.
The
present
"big," not "wlch

proper, but with
the fate of Caesar," or of
Rome
the fate of untold millions of the
human
race.
After a desperate struggle in the Italian govern-
ments between the people and their
rulers, after
years of almost uninterrupted supremacy,

find the Pope, although partially
we
denounced by
the people,
still
occupying the Papal throne,
and kept there mainly by the interference of

foreign arms.
Those Popes who formerly had
power to compel sovereigns and their subjects

to tremble at a nod,
and one of whom, in
18
1209, made
tl;e
THE
PRESr.NT.
British King, John, get
down
were
from
his throne
and
kiss his great
toe,
succeeded, as
we have
seen, in these latter days,
by one who was dragged
to France, during her
revolutionary government, to die in a
common
dungeon; and the present incumbent retained

in
power partly by the arms of the nephew of
the very Napoleon
who chained and imprisoned

dungeon
as a
his predecessor in a
common
felon.
Surely times have changed;

clusively,
and prove con-
even to the most superficial observer,

is
that the world

as
not governed by blind chance,
some have
falsely asserted.
But we
will pass
by the days of Kobespierre and the French

Revolution,
when men were taught by
those
paragons of piety, D'Alembert, Voltaire, Condorcet,
and
others, that there
was no God that

;
death was an eternal sleep;

voluptuousness;
impostor.
modesty, refined
and even Christ himself an
We throw a veil over the blasphemy

of
of those days
1790, and enter upon the
THE rUESENT.
present days
19
refinement
of progress and
of
steamship, railroad, and telegraphic
improve-
ments.
And
liere
we
find the
governments of
Europe, although really the most despotic, yet

relaxing
their
hold
upon
their
fellow-men,
partially breaking the fetters
from the necks of
their serfs, bursting the chains of oppression,
and ameliorating the condition of the children

of
men.
The
British,
French, Turks, and
Brazilians, are rivalling each other in abolishing
the slavery of their subjects, and improving
both their mental and physical condition.

is
This
seen in the establishment of their evangelical
societies,
and conventions for
religious purposes
in their ragged schools, their fairs,
and exhibi-
tions of mechanical ingenuity; their East India
improvement
emancipating
the
societies,
and
their
West India
societies.
exile,
Whilst Turkey shelters
Hungarian
England
shelters
the
American
fugitive.
Thus we
see the tri-colour
of France, the crescent of Turkey,
and the
20
THE PKESENT.
hands together on
cross of St. George, shake
the
age,
])''()gresslvc
iinj)rovemcnt of
man and
the
leaving
the
repubHcanisni and the dein
mocracy of America bewildered

|)erpetnate their cherished
stitution,"
efforts
to
in-
and "peculiar
founded upon cruelty and injustice,
and backed up by unholy compromises and

fugitive slave laws.
kSo
much
for the Present.

21
PART
III.
THE FUTURE.
We
will
now
enter npon the dark and myste-
rious Future, with
which there
is
so
much
uncer-
tainty connected, that none but those
[)ossessin<:;
the gift of prescience can, with
any probability
predict
of approximating
to
the
fact,
what
will really transpire, as
"Heaven from
all
creatures hides the
Book
of Fate
All but the page prescribed, the present state."
Yet, in reviewing the dealings of Divine Providence with the

children
of men,
we mav
form some opinion of the Future from the

Past and the Present.
That the present conis
fused and turbulent condition of the world
ominous
that
there
is
an uneasiness
in
the
is
minds of men
to take place
fearful looking for
what
old
amongst mankind
that
and
long-established
maxims are being exploded, and

22
THE FUTUUE.
hitherto untried theories arc daily developing

tliemsolves
that there
is
a disorganization in the
Councils, Conventions, Assemblies, and Cabinets

of the Nations
that
they are professedly in
favour of liberty, and at the same time are

sustaining a system of slavery,
will scarcely
are facts that
be controverted.
this
It
may
the
be said
political
however,
elements
that
jarring
of
this convulsed state of the civil
and
ecclesiastical world, is
but the precursor of a

of the progressive
better day,
iax
indication
state of the age in this, the nineteenth century,
a greater development of the march of mind, the harbinger of the **good time coming,"
"when
earth,"
righteousness shall prevail and cover the
when the "leopard
shall lie
down with
the kid," &c.

is
But who
believes that the world

.
any better now, or preparing to be any

than
it
better,
was a century gone by?
Look
at the high-handed acts of wickedness, bloodshed,
and murder brought
to light daily, w^hile
THE FUTURE.
23
a paralysis so great seems to have seized both
Churcli and State, that they
may
if
with propriety
not,
be said
to
be countenancing,
encouraging,
by
their
vice,
supineness,
ahnost
every
Wlio
then, with certainty, can predict a better
state of things at
any future time?

is
No
one!
and "what
lias
been
only that that
will be."
But
in
view of the future, what

of the
will
become
family,
of that large portion
human
comprising more than fifteen millions, partly

of mixed blood, of
whom we
form an
inter-
esting and important part?
Is
there a i)lace
on
this,
or any other continent, spoken of in

it
is
sacred or profane history, where

that they shall go,
recorded
distinct
and there become a
and separate nation, or
establish a nationality?
If there be, I have yet to

sibly
know
it.
I shall pos-
be refenêd to Africa, and that passage
of Scripture which says, "Ethiopia shall stretch

forth
her
hands to
God."
reply,
that
Ethiopia has done this, and will continue so
24
to do,
if,
THE FUTURE.
by "stretching
forth her hands,'* in
Scripture,
means
supplication
and prayer, and
not that this mixed blood of her chihh*en in
America
locality,
shall stand
up
in this, or iv^y other

dis-
and there become a separate and

After inhabiting
this
tinct nation.
Continent
for
more than a century, both
as slaves
and
nominal freemen, we find them here in juxraposition
with the white
man
perfect
co-
mixture of the Anglo-Saxon and Africo -American

races
imitating
all
their
vices,
and
emulating
their
many
of their
virtues
their
embracing
religion
habits
and customs,
and
their politics
becoming
their
^^bone of their bone,
and
flesh
of
flesh,"
an
it
amalgamation
has perfectly
which has progressed
until
calicoed the country, in despite of their prejudices, (which are said to
be invincible,) and
their local laws, enacted expressly to prevent

it.
Identified
as
they
are
in
practice
and
feeling with this nation, indeed forming part
THE FUTURE.
of
it,
25
will they,
by any system of emigration,
or colonization, voluntary or involuntary, be
removed from
this to
any other country?
We
emphatically answer, No, notwithstanding the

assertion of those
who have
injured,
and there-
fore hate their
brother, "that the two races
cannot exist in the same country on terms of

equality;"
and colonization
has
become the
grand panacea of the country, and prejudice

its
national sin.
Emigration seldom,
a
if ever,
has
tants;
drained
country
of
its
inhabi-
and
to
Ireland and
as
Germany may be
of
referred
tion
an
illustration
the
posi-
advanced.
Individuals
emigrate,
not
nations;
and prejudice, being but an opinion

cannot therefore be invincible.
is
prt conceived,
The
elevation of these people
written on the
page of destiny.
to
If
it
were possible for them

country,
it
remove from
this
would not
ultimately benefit them, nor the race
among
whom
they might go; neither would their re-

2I>
THE FUTURE.
this nation
moval extricate
from the
just judgsin of
ments of Heaven for the great national

slavery.
It
is
in this
world only that nations
properl j^ are punished ;
and
this class of persons
have no right to claim exemption from punish-
ment
as the special favourites of
Heaven;
for
they, too, are guilty concerning their brethren,

either as holders, apologists, or kidnappers.
But
individuals of this class have gone, and others

will continue to go,
from
this, elsewhere,
to
Canada, to Africa, to the
different islands of the
West Indian
of the globe.
Archipelago, and other portions
Yet
this is
only a proof of the
migratory
spirit existing
within them
inherited
whose
whose
from the race among

born, and from
whom
they have been
whom
partly they have sprung
whose march has always been onward

desire is aggression
and conquest
and
gigantic aim
is
the subjugation of the earth,

its
and
this
control
class of
of
inhabitants.
But
will
persons remain in their present

THE FUTURE.
servile,
27
condition?
degraded,
it
and dependent
We think
impossible in these days of progress
and improvement.
They have
been, and
now
are, receiving a practical education in the school
of adversity and oppression.
The time when
they
shall
have completed that education de-
pends upon many contingencies which

hereafter
principles
arise.
may
There are two antagonistic

country that always have
in
this
been, and indeed, are now, striving for the
mastery
Slavery and
Liberty.
One
is
led
on
by
preârication and falsehood, the other
by
truth
eternal
not
truth, that
divine
as this
will
attribute of
Deity.
In such a contest
doubt
we
cannot,
tri-
we
dare
which
finally
umph,
*'
Truth, crushed to earth will rise again
The
eternal years of
God
are hers."
The speedy redemption and
final elevation of
these people, under Divine Providence, depends
mainly upon themselves.
Unfortunately, our
28
THE rUTURE.
people, as a class, have not yet learnt to tliink
that
"Those who would be
free
!" Themselves must strike the blow
Those persons, composing a part of

nation, will remain in these States
this great
this
and on
Continent, not because they are willing so to
remain, but because circumstances beyond their

control conspire to prevent their removal; whilst
the prophet's prediction stands boldly recorded

of the admixture of the ^*gold, silver, brass,
iron,
and clay
" being together, constituting, as

this great iron, or
they do, a part of
Roman
government, represented as a "beast, having

great iron teeth, preparing to tread
down the
earth;" and ndt content with "mere preservation,

is
aiming at universal mastery,"
taking
earth,
at
possession of all parts
and places of the
in Europe, Asia, Africa,
and America, and

its
thousand different points exhibiting

will
stern
by playing the tyrant and
aggressor, tramp-

THE FUTURE.
ling
29
down
the earth with impunity.
Agreeing
with each other, yet really disagreeing

mixed, yet
separated
being
united,
yet
divided
composed of every nation, tongue, and people

under heaven
as
;
thus fulfilling
five
its
great destiny,
predicted more than
thousand years
gone by,
until the time comes, as
come
it will?
when
solid
the terraqueous globe that
we
inhabit, the
shall
pavement upon which we slumber,
be burnt up;
fires
the "elastic crust, imprisoning
that have slept undisturbed from the crea-
tion,"
and
are
now
struggling to escape, daily
bursting forth, exhibiting themselves in dreadful

earthquakes, which scatter death and destruction
in their path, shaking cities
and swallowing their and

deluging
inhabitants,
upraising
islands
countries, thus
making preparation and gatherfinal outburst,
ing strength for the great and

the
will
last
" great drama," which in the

nations
of
latter
day
sweep the
every
"kindred,
tongue, and people" that forget God, as with
30
THE FUTURE.
new
a besom of destruction, and usher in the "
heavens and a
righteousness."
new
earth,
wherein dwelleth
ai
THE FUGITIVES.
On
the
a bleak and somewhat dreary evening in
month
of
near the town of

,
in
the county of
twilight were seen
and
state of
about
two weary
toil
travellers
from the
;
land of unrequited
and oppression
one an
half-blood, or familiarly termed a "mulatto,''
and the other of a hue somewhat more

sitting leisurely in a
sable,
by-path by the roadside,

limbs, sorely
resting
their
weary
of
fatigued
from
the
effects
the previous
evening's
journey, and regaling themselves upon a spare
and scanty meal of dry corn cake, and a drink

of pui-e aqua that gushed from a neighbouring
rivulet.
Unexpectedly, like the fawn startled

sharp
by
the
crack
of
the
hunter's
rifle,
or the timid hare
by the sudden approach
of
the hounds, they were startled

footsteps,
by the sound of
and the voice of one who, they had
32
THE FUGITIVES.
every reason to suppose,
from
the locality,
and other surrounding circumstances,

slave-hunter, a kidnapper
;
^was
whose object was to
return
them back
to the house of
bondage from
which they were endeavouring
to escape,
and
to receive, as an equivalent for the unhallowed

services rendered, the trifling
reward offered by
Their
first
their
master
for
their
return.
thought was to
escape
fly as for their lives,
and thus
from one who they supposed was a
betrayer; but
upon discovering that the voice

if
proceeded from one who,

situation,
not like them in
was
at least identified in complexion
with them, they concluded to stop, and listen

to
a proposal that
act
as
he was
about to make,
and
circumstances
might
develop
themselves.
The person
professed unfeigned
after
friendship and
sympathy for them; and
repeated protestations, they were induced to
accompany him
to his domicile,
and accept
concealed
his
proffered hospitality.
They were
by
THE FUGITIVES.
liim in a loft of the house, while the
33
good house-
wife was ordered to prepare forthwith a meal

of the good things of life for their
dation and comfort.
accommo-
Scarcely had they heen
secreted in their retreat, ere they discovered the
room below them
filled
with armed men, with
ropes to pinion them, and return
them back
from whence they came.

lost;
No
time was to be
they soon found that they were betrayed,

last
and determined to defend themselves to the

extremity.
roof,
first
Snatching an old scythe from the
they threatened an onslaught upon the
man who
should attempt to ascend the

to surrender;
stair-way.
They were summoned

so,
and upon refusing to do
one of the crowd
ascended the ladder or stair-way,
when the
weapon,
of the
half-blood, with the first stroke of his
nearly severed the
arm from the body
man;
and with the next blow, he cut the

fugitives
abdomen of the second man open. The

then deliberately walked down
stairs,
upset the
M
supper-table
THE FUGITIVES.
tluit
was prepared, not
for them,
but for their ])ctrayers, and rushed througli the

])anic-struck
crowd undaunted and unmolested.

piu'sued the
They were
confined
left to
next day, o\"ertakeu,

hand-and-foot, and
in a stable,
tied
ruminate over their late adventure, and
unsuccessful attempt at regaining their liberty.
general jollification was carried on

in the
all
night
by the pursuers
while
the
bar-room of the tavern,
key of
the stable in
which the
to the care
fugitives were confined
was entrusted
of the stage driver.
Sometime during the night

visit
he had occasion to
alone,
the stable, which he did
when, to his astonishment, he was seized

fugitives
by the
who had
vl
some way or other
managed
and-foot,
to extricate themselves,
tied
handif
and threatened with instant death
he
made
the least noise, or dared call for assistance.

stable door,
They then locked the
threw the
key away, and, unobserved by any one, they
made a second
successful
and
final escape.
35
WEST INDIA EMANCIPATION.

The
commemoration
of
the
freedom
of
800,000 human beings, who, through the providence of God, received the great blessing of
immediate and unconditional emancipation on

the 1st of August, 1838, should never be forgotten by us.
We
should perpetuate that act,
as rational creatures, as lovers of freedom,

as beings connected
in
and
the great chain that

of brother-
binds
mankind
in the
common bonds
hood.
And
not })articularly because coloured
men were
enslaved, but because they were men,
and the workmanship of the great Architect

of heaven and earth.
Therefore, where
men
are oppressed, whether wrapped in the fur of
the frozen Laplander, or burning under a vertical
sun in the torrid zone; whether pohtical
in the battle-field, or personal in the corn-field
geographical
tions,
lines,
and complexional
distinc-
should by no
means prevent us from
36
sympathizing with them when ufHicted,
from
weeping when they wxcp, and rejoicing when

they rejoice.
To
tlie
introduction
of
slavery
slave
into
this in
coiintiy,
by whom, and the
trade
it
general,
we
shall
not advert.
Suffice
to
say, that selfishness
and sordid
interest, for the
supposed advantage of one class of men, led to

the enslavement and degradation of another
class.
And,
for gold, they were
induced to
visit
the coast of Africa, and there purchase,
plunder, and steal the natives of that unhappy

continent, and transplant
them
to this, to
if
wear
out a miserable existence in slavery,
happily
they might escape the untold horrors of the
middle passage, or survive the

acclimation in
servitude.
afflictions
of
their
new home
find
of perpetual
Hence we now
on the continent
of
North America a large

blood,"
class of persons of
"mixed
descendants of Africans and
Europeans, bond and free,
the
sufferings of

whose ancestors,
in crossing the Atlantic;
87
the
slavery of themsches and their posterity in the
West
Indies and here; their future elevation
here, as well as there, to equal civil
and
political
privileges with their fellow-men, will, to
the
future historian, afford a theme thrilling and

interesting.
When
the
demon
of slavery shall
have been banished from society by the genial

rays of Christianity and right
;
when
the clank
of the slave's chain shall no longer be heard
when the
great blessing of liberty shall be alike

all
enjoyed by
men
in this otherwise free
and
happy countiy; when the oppressor and the

oppressed shall become equal participants in the
great blessings of
privileges
;
civil, religious,
and
political
then will the future historian, look-
ing through the vista of bygone days, with a
pen that
glistens,
and words that burn, bring
to light the iniquity of the slave system,
and
rescue from oblivion the names of some of the

noblest works of God.
88
WEST INDIA EMANCirATION.

Since the act of emancipation
in the
West
Indies, the friends of the '^peculiar institution"
everywhere, looking through their pro-slavery

spectacles at the almighty
dollar alone,
have
denounced the act

of
tlie islands,
as injurious to the prosperity
as well as to the best interests of
the emancipated.
fact, that
jis
Overlooking or ignoring the

so prosperous
no country ever can be
that in whi(;h the great labouring masses

proprietors of
soil
become the
defend that
the
soil,
none
will
with more avidity and zeal

owners; thus
rendering
than
its
actual
the
country more peaceable, and more productive,

in direct ratio with the increased intelligence
and freedom
of of
its
population.
The day
British
emancipation
Indies,
throughout the
despite
West
was,
the false
prophets, as remarkable
for quietude
and
so-
lemnity, as that which marks the Sabbath in
any Christian
land.
Disinterested tra^êllers
have declared that their behaviour, since their
WEST INDIA EM.VNCirATION.
v)l)
emancipation, has been remarkable for docility,

industry,
and obedience, which

an unnatural
interest
relation,
proves that
slavery
is
and against
as
the
best
of
enslaver
then,
well
as
this
enslaved.
We
should,
perpetuate
great event that transpired in our midst, mid
return thanks to that Almighty Being,
who
has His "ways in the whirlwind, and whose

footsteps are not seen," for this bloodless vic-
tory of liberty over oppression, of right over
wrong.
Then
let
us rejoice and be glad

are released
When men
If
from oppression
Let none shew a countenance sad
owners give up their possession.

'11
In lasting remembrance we
This
dây, for
keep
Jehovah hath spoken,
Although the oppressor
may
weep,
Yet
fetters
and chains
shall be broken.
40
A THOUGHT.
How
delightful
it is
to contemplate the annual
return of that season of the year, ere cold and dreary winter, with
its
hail, frost,
and snow makes
appearance; when the summer has passed
by,
and the meridian sun hath

western
hills;
set
behind
wears
toil
the
when
all
nature
the
a somewhat sombre aspect, and

the
of
husbandman
seems
full
;
about to be
amply
rewarded by the
harvest of mellow fruit
and
fields,
ripened
fruits,
grain
when
the
variegated
and flowers are blandly smiled

sun,
upon by an Indian summer

is
and the
air
perfumed with the delightful fragrance of

fruits
newly-made hay, decayed
and flowers!
How
truly delightful
is
the contemplation of
to the eye
this season of the year,
which gives
of the beholder, the lover of nature's God, un-
mistakeable evidence that autumnal glory reigns

alone supreme, spread
by an Almighty hand
POETRY.
I.
ETHIOPIA.
But
Ethiopia hath stretch'd out

to
Her hands
God on
hidi
And
midst her
many
fears
and doubts
Her
voice hath reach'd the skv.
And God And
hath heard Eth'opia's
cries,
brought salvation near:
He
promises her tears and sidis
Shall surely disappear.
Although her sons are

O'er
scatter'd
wide
many
distant climes,
shall bide
Yet God commands that thev

His own appointed times.
42
ETHIOPIA.
If stretching forth to
God
her hands
Means
supplicating pray'r,
lands,
Then, from her own and distant
Her groans have
filled
the
air.
That grace which brings
salvation
down
Hath unto her appear'd;
And
thousands of her sons around

gracious truth have heard.
The
And
millions
more
in ev'ry land,
Who 've
To
felt the
heavenly love.
Join with Eth'opia's outstretch'd hands,

praise their
Lord above.
Then
stretch, Eth'opia, stretch
thy hands,
Thy God remembers
thee;
And
all
throughout thy sunny lands.

free.
Declares thou shalt be
43
II.
'
"
,
AN
11
ACROSTIC.
lady, broach'd a theme,
AST thou, kind

's
A cord that
Resistlessly
reach'd the
human
soul,
(R ound which there hangs a hazy cheam,)

from pole
to pole?
still
1 udeed, though thou art
accus'd,
E 'en
when thou
'rt call'd
from earth away.
Thy "Cabin"
oft will
be perus'd
By thousands at some future day; E 'en new, in almost ev'ry place, E arnest and swift thy plea is sent,
C ailing appealing
Hear! hear! the
to thy race.
captive's sad lament!
wit,
namour'd by thy sparkling
E eluctant
Truth has been
confess'd
44
SING UNTO OOI).
lav'ry has been pronounc'd unfit
T o be supported or earess'd! O ur thanks we tender unto thee
W elcome thy " Cabin

E xposing
sin
"
," and thy " Ke\
and slavery
III.
SING UNTO GOD.

Sing unto God on
high,
And
to
Emmanuel,
Who
reigns in yonder spacious sky,
And
yet with
men
doth dwell.
Declare abroad His fame;
Let
ey'ry heart rejoice,
And
praise the Saviour's sacred
name
With
a united voice.
SING UNTO GOD.
45
Bear Jesus
let
Tliy gi-ace
Be
Our
in us,
and inspire
liearts to
run the heav'nly race
With an
intense desire.
TIiou art the Christians' friend
In ev'ry trying hour;
And Thou
From
wilt save
them
in the
end
Satan's grasping power!
Then, when our work
is
done,
And
all
our
trials o'er,
lêrmit us to surround
Thy
throne.
And
praise
Thee evermore.
40
IV.
IN MEMORIAM,
On the late Right Reverend Richard Allen,

Bisiior OF
first
THE A. M.
E.
Church.
Peace
to thee, father!
thou hast gone
To
Thy
that blest shore ;
last great battle 's
fought and won
Thy
conflict
's
o'er.
As dew-drops from
the clouds above
On
Thy
earth distillM,
melting words, like floods of love,

hearts have
fill'd.
Our
The
helpless in thee
found
relief;
And
Of
the
distress'
every kind, though torn by grief,

bless'd!
Pronounce thee
IN
MEMOBIAM.
47
Thou
lab'rcdst hard to teach thy race
A
And
Saviour's Ice,
point
them
to that better phice
In heav'n above.
A murky light
But
thou didst not give,
brilliant, clear!
Thy
deeds of piety shall live
Full
many
a year.
Not
like
a transient meteor, thou,
But
a bright star,
glorious light
far.
is
Whose
seen e'en now,
Both near and
Loud sang
the angels to God's praise

[days
In chorus high,
When
thou hadst crowned thy lengthen'd
In victory!
48
IN 3IEMORIAM.
Waiting around thy
coucli tliiy stood
To
guide thee o'er

of death's cokl flood,
The surging waves
To Canaan's
shore.
Then
rest thee, father,
till
that day
When
And
saints shall rise,
burst the bands of mortal clay,

the skies.
To mount
Thou
shalt then
rewarded be, and
Thy
robe so bright,
Outshine the sun throudiout that land n
Of love and
light.
Then
in
thy crown
shall
many
stars
To
xVnd
thee be given;
all
thy
tears,
and wounds, and
scars,
Be
heal'd in heaven.
49
V.
HYMN.
LouT), coiiflesccnd to
Wliilst at
l)Iess
us now,
Thy
feet
we humbly bow
from above
love.
And
let
Thy
juid
Spirit
fill
Descend
our hearts with
Make
us to feel
Thy
presence near,
And
(
Hll this
let
[dace with holy fear.
)h
Tliy pard'ning love be found,
And
rrace,
and
faith,
and hope abound.
May
And
sinners wonder,
feel,
and
fear,
tremble with a penitent tear.
May
And
Thus
mourners now embrace
Thy
love,
Christians praise Thee, Lord, above.
shall
we
serve Thee, gracious Lord!
And
And
walk obedient to Thy Word;

live,
and
love,
and hope, and
sing,
Redemption
to our
God and King!
50
VT.
HAMAN.
MOXARcil
sat
on Persia's tlirouo
Wliose sceptre swiiy'd the world alone
In royal state;
None
(lar'd his
sovereign will dispute
Around him
stood his vassals mute,

great.
For he was
Throughout the whole of
Persia's land
One
only dar'd approach the hand
Of royalt}'.
Haman!
the chieftain of that king
Whose
heart conceiv'd a wicked thing

'Gainst Mordecai.
He
issued,
all
first,
a firm decree,
That
should worship
rise.
when they 'd
see
His image
IIAMAN.
.51
But Mordecai,
RefusM,
the righteous Jew,
as ev'ry
one should do,
To
his surprise!
At
length a gallows high he swung,

all
Upon which
As
But
as
were to be hung,
'
he did vow.
he rode, in royal
state,
Sat Mordecai at the gate,
And would
not bow.
For
this his
wrath was kindled
sore,
And
at the
banquet loud he swore

the Jews.
He 'd hang
But Esther
I
'11
said,
" Before the king

this
go,
and stop
If
wicked thing.
lie refuse.*'
The king
received
Queen
Esther's plea,
Released the
Jews immediately.
And Haman hung!
52
LABOR.
Thus on
the gallows, high and new,
He \\
built for Mordecai, the Je\>
Himself was swung.
How many
Have
thousands, since that day,
huilt a gallows, so that they
Some one
could hang!
But, to their horror and surprise.
They 've
found, with
all their
deep disguise,
Themselves have swang.
VII.
LABOR.
Occupy some worthy

Care not
if it soil;
place.
Honest labors no
diso;race;
toil.
Man
was made to

LABOR.
53
Therefore, labor
I Live
I
cer on
an en. in view,
Thougli you
may
be look'd upon
By an
idle crew.
Labor
witli
the head or hand.
With
the heart or pen;

'11
Labor, and von
understand
icJien!
How
Lfdior,
to do,
and
and make no complaint

is
That the time
h)ng;
Work
in earnest,
never faint
stronsc.
Till the
weak be
Labor
zealous, calm, secure!
Aim
at something high.
Hope and
labor
till
you're sure
Your reward
is
nigh.
54
WINDS.
Labor while the day
is
long,
Lest the night be near.

Battle manfully with wrong,
Till the right appear.
VIII.
WINDS.
Winds
echo through the

are unseen,
trees,
And
Ever
Though we may
feel the breeze
so keen.
So deeds, however kind.
When
Are
they are past,
driven from the mind.
Like the rude
blast.

55
IX.
THE EMIGEANT.
Adieu
to the
land of
my
birtli
Proud land
of the sla\e
and the fn e
earth
What charms have thy bosom on

For men
of complexion like
me?
In this boasted land of the free

I
Ve
suffered contumely
and scorn
And
cannot relate what I see
Is reserved for millions unborn.
If places
on earth can be found
Untainted by slavery's breath,

I
'11
find them, or search the world
round
Till
my
sorrows are ended in death.

5(1
THE
p:MIGliANT.
Thy
liberty
is
but a name
in fine!
!
A
Tl^^'
byword
a jargon,
freemen of colour
to escape
oh shame
tliy
Are glad
from
clime!
Adieu to thy
stripes
and thy
stars,
Tliat vauntingly float o'er the main!
Adieu to thy Lynch-laws and
jars,
Thy
fetters,
thy charter, and chain!
T go to the Isles of the Sea,
Where men
are not iudojed hv their hue!
Where
all
are protected and free

land, therefore, adieu
My native

57
FRIENDSHIP.
Friendship
is
seldom found on earth

it
At
For,
least
we Ve heard
said
when enjoying
pleasant mirth,
We seldom need its aid.

Is Friendship, then, an
empty dream
A phantom in disguise A vision only to be seen

By
Or
those of double eyes?
is it
really felt or
found
By
those in deep distress
Like rain upon the parched ground,
Or
barren wilderness?

58
FRIENDSlIIf.
Ye who
have
felt
the bitter pang

gi'ief,
Of unrelenting
Tell nie,
when Friendship
you
relief?
ê^'er
sprang
To
offer
When,
like the solitary clove

all alone,
In woodbine,
Your
pensive notes of absent love

caus'd your heart to
Have
moan,
Has not
the
hand
of
some kind friend
Assuaged your troubl'd breast?
Has no one
offered to defend,
distress'd ?
Or
aid
you when
Is Friendship only felt at best
Where
plenty reigns supreme;
And
Of
seldom to be found the guest

poverty unseen?
ON SEEING A SNOW-BIRD.
Oh, no!
disint' rested frieiidshij) can,
59
And
lias
been found, we know
purer, sweeter friendship than
This earth can
e'er bestow.
A friendship that
Then
seek
it,
is
undefiled
Flows down from heaven above;

as a
its
little
child
First seeks
parents' love.
XT.
ON SEEING A SNOW-BIRD.
The woodman
The ground The
foliage has
sits
snug
at his hearth.
is all
cover'd with snow,
gone from the earth.
Then
go, little snow-bird,
now go

60
ON SEEING A 8NOW-BIUI).
The woodpecker,
raven,
and
all.
Have
hid
them secure
in their hohl
fall,
And
the snow yet continues to

is
The weather
chilly
and
cold.
Thou
art a precursor of
ill
To
the sad, unfortunate poor;

still,
For the snowflakes follow thee
And
lie
cold at the poor man's door.
The swallow hath gone
to the barn,
And
Then
the cuckoo, the robin, and wren ;little
go,
bird,
when
'tis
warm,
Nor pay
us a
visit again.
61
XII.
AN
C ONSISTENT
Armed
ACROSTKt.
friend of right,
called hence?
Hast thou been
with power and might,
Receive thy recompense!
L iberty's
advocate,
E ver noble
and great
wat'ry grave
S oon found a
F ar
Oh!
from thy native land.

was there none
to save?
L ove for the human kind L ed thee to seek no rest

E ngrav'd
Nations
within the mind,
will call thee blest!
62
XIII.
TO SPRING.
Old
Winter's
past,
blast,
With storm and

Let 's be no longer sad
For Spring has come,
With
all its
is
bloom.
glad!
And
earth again
The
smiling field
Its harvests yield.
The brooks with waters
flow;
Then
let
's
rejoice
With
cheerful voice,
And
on to duty go!

TO SPRING.
<)3
The
joyful bird
Can now be heard
With
niekxly to sing!
All nature, too,
Unites to view
The
pleasant days of Spring.
Industriously
The
stirring bee
Prepares to take his round
Among
And
the bow'rs
smiling flow'rs,
Where'er they may be found.
The
sweetest green
seen,
Can now be
The worm
begins to creep;
Then why should we

Act
sluggishly.
Or
waste our time in sleep?

64
TIIK
SLAVE-CATCH KTl.
No
time to rest
Life 's short at best
Let 's work while
yet
we may
With
cheerful heart
We
Ere we be
'11
do our part,
called away.
XIV.
THE SLAVE-CATCHER.
Hark!
the cry,
"A
slave ran by!"
Quick, pursue the track;
Don't delay
He'll get
away
Ere we get him back.
THE 8LAVE-CATCHEU.
^5
I regard
The
larp^c
reward
By
the master giv'n
And
As by
go
rain
Through
it
and snow,
I 'm (hiv\i.
I am,
sir,
The master s
As I 'm known
cur,
to scout
Tlirough the fen.
The
l)og,
is
and
out.
glen.
When
a slave
Hark! the
cry,
"A
slave
's
gone by
!"
Quick, pursue the track;
Don't delay
He
'11
get
away
Ere we get him back
d
6Q
XV.
LINES
Inscribed to Benjamin Lundy,
Es(i.
Luxdy!
thv miffhtv zeal

!
Persecution
strife
CalFcl forth a host of friends
Into active Hfe.
If noble deeds could speak,
The}' would
tell
of thee,
Who
to the
world proclaim'
free.
Man
Thou
was created
labour' dst to secure

in this great land,
Freedom
Not only
to the white,
But
to the colom^'d band.
LINES.
<>7
But thou
art called
hence
Before the battle's won;

Still
with thine armour on,
All blaziniT in the sun.
Although of stature
small,
Thou wert
large in heart.
And
for
thy fellow-men
Didst act a brother's part.
Thou
didst not cease to call
On all men to repent, And to their brother give

Liberty and content.
Onward! thy watchword was,
To
set
the captive
free.
Until, throughout the earth.
All
men
shall brothers be.
! ;
68
LINES.
See! what a host has
now
Quick
rallied to the call;

like thee,
And
who,
demands
Full liberty for
all
Fearlessly they defend
All those that are oppress'd,
And
To
nobly condescend
succour the distress'd.
Onward
their motto
!
is
Agitate
their plan
Emancipate! their cry;
Make
the slave a man.
69
XVI.
THE SLAVE-HOLDER'S APOLOGY.

These
slaves I
now
possess are mine,
Sanction'd by laws of earth and Heaven.
We thank Thee, gracious power divine,

That unto us
this
boon
is
given.
In Scripture thou hast bidden us make

Slaves of the heathen and the strangei*;
And
if
we heathen people
is
take.
less
There
no harm, and much
danger.
Slav'ry
's
a system that 's ordain'd
On
earth to be, and to us given
This can be read in language plain.
And
thus
we thank Thee, Lord
in heaven,
70
THE slave-holder's apology.

I
That,
ill
Tliy wisdom, Tliou mad'st us
The
instruments to show
fulfil
Thy
power,
And
thus
on them the curse

until this
Of ^^Cain," nay "Ham,"
hour!
Wliat care we for the Northern
fool,
Who
And
talks about the rights of niggers?
We know
that
we
wêre
made
to rule.
they ordain'd to be the diggers.
Besides,
it
can be seen at sight,
Our
slaves, if freed,
would turn out
lazy;
And
if
the " fanatics " are right,

Scriptures' wrong, or
The
we
are crazy.
It says, old
^Vbraham held
slaves.
And
Paul sent back Onesimus
Those patr'archs would spring from their

graves
To
hear the prate of Abolition' sts
THE slave-holder's AI'OLOca.
71
They
stiy,
" Great Britain has set free

of her poor, lazy creatures!"
reflect,
Some few
But
if
they'd just
they'd see
figures.
They 've missed the mark hy many
For who
will cultivate the soil,
Or
plant their sugar-cane and cotton'^

toil,
Their niggers now are freed from
And
soon their
ills
will
be forgotten.
Then hold
They
on, brethren of the
South
tell
's
me
Abolition's dying:
This cry
in almost ev'ry mouth,

's
Uidess you think the rascal
lying.
Whether
or not, this corner-stone
Of our
Our
So
Kepublic shall not crumble;
laws and '^niggers" are our own,

let
the poor " fanatics '' grumble
72
XVII.
WHAT
IS
TRUTH?
What
Whose
is
Truth
'^
said those of okl,
Who,
oft
wiirned
by
Israel's
all
God,
daring deeds, then
untold.
Brought down on them the Avenger's rod.
What
is
Truths was asked by one

Israel
Whom
had been taught
to fear.
Whilst, with scorn, he looked upon
The very
truth that was so near.
What
The
is
Truth? said
Pilate,
when
truth had reached his inmost heart

clean his hands again,
said
Washing
In murder,
he 'd have no part.

WHAT
IS
: :
TRUTli^
73
What k Truth?
Is
it
the slaiKFrer savs

neifijhboiirs'
to blast
mv
all
name
Them
defaming
as
my
days
Acting
though I had no shame ^
What
is
Truth ? the tyrant

his
said,
Whilst he enslav'd
fellow-man
Now my
will shall
be obey'd,
For who
my
right will dare to scan ?
What What
is
Truth? the miser
says,
While
countincTj o'er his ill-o-ot sain
care I for her good ways,

obtain.
So I the "yellow dross"
What
is
Truth? the
sceptic says.
While doubt and
fears
annoy
his ])ath
Shall I heed her peaceful ways,
Or meet
at last indignant
wrath
74
PRAYER.
What
is
Trutli? the Christian cries,
Publishing a Saviour's love,
While from earth
to heaven he hies
To
the stariy realms above.
What
is
Trutli? I
may
not tell
shall
What is
What
is
"the Truth"
be made known;
Truth, remember well,
Is firm as God's eternal throne!
XVIII.
PRAYER.
CtRANT
us,
Lord, a heart to pray,
A heart to walk in wisdom's way, A heart resign'd to Thee;

And
while
we journey here
below,
May
streams of peace and comfort flow
As
rivers
bold and
free.
75
I
PRAYEK.
4
t
(ji-ant us a heart
true and
sincere,
Endued with grace and

Eesolv'd to love
holy fear,
Thee
still;
To
follow
Thee
in all thy ways,
And
spend the remnant of our days
Obedient to
Thy
will.
Grant, gracious Lord, whene'er
we
stray
From
Thee, thy Holy Spirit

Incline
iis
may
to repent.
sin,
Oh! keep
us from presumptuous
Spirit dwell within,
Let thy good
And
Oh!
give us peace
content.
grant, that
we may
always act
To
others just
and
right, in fact
As
they to us should do
shall end.
That, when our time on earth
With
all
the good
we may ascend
to view.
The heavenly land
7<J
ON THE FUCJITIVE LAW.
Grant that our parents,
cliildren, wife,
life,
May
also lead
a spotless
While here on earth we

And, oh! where'er our
lot
stay;
be
cast,
May we remember
that, at last
We
shall be call'd
away.
XIX.
ON THE FUGITIVE LAW.
And
Of
so
you
will not hear the prayer
thousands who, in common, share

just,
nights that are equal,
and
fair,-
Ye've not
discuss'd!
wêll
!
Beware
we warn you
For soon ye must

LA',V.
ON THE FUGITIVE
77
None
(Ijiro,
ye say, dispute our claim;
Nay, more!
none
shall discuss or
Maine
*H)ur sacred institution!" Shame!

Tliis
warning take:
I
Beware!
we warn you well

laws ye
The
make
Your
cry, so
much
like those of old,
"Our
For,
time
's
not come!"
does,
Then
cease to scold,
when
it
we
still
will hold
This system given,
Beware!
we warn vou
of
well!
The frowns
Heaven!
Think ye can
Go,
stop the
march of mind
fast
think of chaining
"fugitive laws,"
the wind
Your
all
combined,
Must
BevNâre!
cease to be
we warn you
will be free
I
well!
Man
!;
78
ON THE FUOITIVE LAW.
The world
is
racked with
many pUms
T' ameliorate this state of
man s,
While
(jvery nation closely scans
Each
Beware!
other's ways:
we warn you
well!
Your number' d
days!
As
certain birds prefer the night,

light
So tyrants always dread the
Of Freedom! and
As
Beware!
the laws of right,
well they
may:
well!
we warn you
pray!
The people
Men,
for a time,
may
bear the
ill,
To
be enslav'd at
human will
skill,
Yet, in despite of tyrants'
Will burst their chains

BeA\are!
we warn you
well!
This truth remains
79
x\.
ACROSTIC.
B old E ver
I n
ill
the cause of truth;

;
maintained the right
N ot in the strength of man

God!
the
infinite!
A Iways consistent, true

'M idst
difficulties, strife
;
I nto the battle calPd
Never
despair' d
through
life!
L et tyrants rage the more,
U ntil their anger o'er, N or let them us allure D ear friend we rest secure Y our trust in God sure.
's
!
is

80
XXI.
THE SEMINOLE.
Bold champion
of a noble race,
face,
AVho never fear'd the pale man's
Or nation
tried' st
thou to disgrace,
of Seminole;
Or name
Who,
for the rescue of thy wife,
Upraised the tomahawk and knife,
And
led thy brethren to the strife,
'Twas the brave Oceola
Roused by the war-whoop's distant sound,

Scatter'd thou death and carnage round
Thi
"
'
erglade, or sacred
.
mound,
And
lands of Seminole.
THE SEMINOLE.
But
J
81
all
the fatal moment,
when
Thon
j^laced reliance
on the men,
then
!
Who, nndev
flag of truce, did
Deceive thee, Oceola
Fame
will record it to
the shame
Of those who
To
plann'd,
and those who came
desecrate fair Freedom's
name
By
But
robbing Seminole.
thou, Floridan, art the boast

coast,
Through thy wild romantic

While
all
thy brave unconquered host
E member
Oceola!
82
XXII.
TO
MY MOTHERLETTY WALLACE.
Mother!
we have seen thee wasting,

hour, as time has
fled,
Hour by
And we
To
sometimes fear thee hast'ning
be number'd with the dead.
Yet, the thought of separation
From
thee, oft disturbs our sleep,

ceaseless observation.
And, with
We,
the watchful vigils keep.
Mother
we have known thy kindness

early childhood days.
In our
When
in
unknown
infant blindness
We have stray' d from
wisdom's ways.
;; ;
TO
Motlier!
MY
MOTIIEU.
83
wc
ha\'e seen thee lanffuisli.

tliee sigh
And
have wept to hear
Wliile, with pain
and
bitter angnisli
We
conkl do no more than cvy.
Mother
we
will
smooth thy pillow

life sliall last
Whilst the spark of
^^Hang onr harps upon the willow,"

Till
the fun'ral train has pass'd.
Wc
will
think of thee, dear mother!
When
With
thou 'rt in the
silent
grave
And we '11
comfort one another
the dvinsj words thou ir^ve.
Should the Lord be pleased to take thee
From thy
children, to thee given
Oh! we pray
that
He may make
thee
Pure and spotlessfit
for heav'n.
84
XXIII.
THE TWO FUGITIVES.

TIard
There
by, within a southern clime,
liv'd
a patriarch subHme,
With
slaves to tremble at his nod,
As
heathens to a wooden god.
Two
f av'rite slaves this lord possess'd,

rest,)
(Perhaps more knowing than the
Who
long desir'd to seek a place

slav'ry dar'd not
Where
show
its face.
At
length they heard that liberty
Was
To
found beyond the States called
free,
So they determined, come what may.

leave their lord without delay.
THE TWO FUGITIVES.
85
Accordingly, as night a])proacli'd,
Snugly ensconc'd within a coach,
They
quickly left their lord's domain,

hail,
Tlirough storm, and snow, and
and
rail
An
hour or so had scarce
o-one b^\
Ere there was
raised a great outcry:
"Pursue! pursue! you '11 find their track-
Fly quick! and overtake the hack!"
The nags were faint the snow was deep
And
up the
hills
they scarce could creep
When,
suddenly, three
men
cried out,
(piick about!
"Stop! stop that hack; turn
"We
Or
wish to
know
if
you've white
men
^niggers,' for
we
've
come
for
them!
We 're authorized to take them now

Two
thousand
doll's are ours,
we vow."

"
^{\
rilE
TWO
FUGITIVES.
The
driver, tremb'liiig, soon obey'cl,
Tlieir orders to fulfil essayed;
The men
within
said,
" 'Tis but death

!
We
'11
fight
them while we've life and breath
A scuffle
quickly
now
ensued;
With moral power they were endued.
They fired,
they missed, they again, "Two thousand and men

fired
dollars" lost
The " slaves "
at length a refuge found,
Until the snow had left the ground
When
off
they marched for Canada,
Protected by Victoria
cS7
XXIV.
PARAPHRASE,
Luke
xxiv.
It liappen'd on a summer even-tide,
Soon
after Christ
travellers,
had
freely l)led
and
died,
Two
upon the dusty road.
Each going
to his
own
belov'd abode.
And, walking
on, their conversation turn'd.
From many
things, to that they just discern'd.
" Sure there are things," said one, "beyond our
thought
Wonders have
been, this day, in Israel wrought."
They both conversed n,bout things they had seen,

Until a stranger joined them, but unseen
"Say, what communion
is it, sirs,
I pray,
Ye seem
to
have along
this lonely
way?"
88
rAKAPIlRASE.
thou, indeed, a stranger,
sir,
"Art
who
says,
Thouknow'stnotwhathashappen'din tliese(hiys?
How
that our people did one Jesus bleed.

tlioufjht 'twas
We
He
that woidd have IsrV'l
freed!"
"Oh fools!"
died?
said
He, "ought Christ not
to
have
Foretold of yore, and by Plim pro])liesied."
Then Moses and
the Prophets
He
reveal'd.
Which
Then
to their eyelids heretofore were sealM.
to the village, as they all
drew near.
He
fain
would go; but, said they, "Tarry here;

is
The day More
spent,
we cannot
let
thee go;
of thy
name and nature wc would know."
The
three together straightway sat at meat
He took, He bless' d. He broke the bread, tliey eat. They saw Him ere He vanish' d from their sight
"
How
burn'd our hearts within us here this
night!"
89
XXV.
ON JEALOUSY.
What
wretched thoughts disturb
my
breast
Deprive
Destroy
me
of
my
daily rest;
my equanimity!
"Tell me, can this be jealousy?"
Why is it that I hate to see My neighbours in j^rosperity? Why am I filFd with misery ?
" Tell me, can this be jealousy?"
Does
this incline
me
to traduce,
To
envy, slander, and abuse?
Make
mountains, when they mole-hills be?

IS is
Tell me, j-cii mc,
nui inis jealousy T' not this jealousy?"

ON JEALOUSY.
90
To
e'en
siisj)cct,
to e'en believe,
That ev'ry
])ers()n will
deceive,
And
do some secret injury

is
"Tell me,
this
not jealousy?"
By
inuendoes stab, beguile

friend, yet
meet him with a

think
I
smile,
And make him

"Tell me,
is
'm open,
free-
this not
jealousy?"
Oh
cruel monster. 1 'm thy slave

T have, the
The more
more I crave;
I envy ev'ry one I see
This
this is surely "jealousy."
\n
XXVI.
I'VE SEEN.
I've seen,
In
Democratic States,
Within the Nation's Hall,

Wliere Congress meets, and legislates
About the
rights of all;
A
T
legal trade in
human
flesh,
That most of men despise
And men
Before
bought
tlie
foi-
the
market IVesh
ft/
!-
memhei-s' eves.
've seen the Soutliern
members
rave,
And
Had
in their places sweai*.
Because some poor, degraded shne

offer'd
them
a prayer!

92
I
VE SEEN.
I 've seen the trafficker in blood,
With
coppels on before,
legislators stood
Drive by, while
Discussing on the floor
Declaiming, loudly, to the world
That
all this
land
is free.
And, with
their stripes
and
stars
unfurPd,
They shouted "Liberty!"
I 've seen excitement raging high
Throughout
this
wide domain.
fly
Because some slaves had dared to
From
slavery's galling chain.
Ve
seen in these United States

soil
This consecrated
Men
bought and sold by pounds and weights,

fields to toil.
In Southern
I've seen.
93
I 've seen a slave, though not
by
clay,
Whose back was

Unable to discern
Stand gazing
mark'cl with scars,
his
way.
at the stars.
've seen the hunter
on
his track,
And men and
dogs at bay.
Determined to regain him back

This side of Canada.
I 've seen
the half I ne'er can

slaves,
tell.
Of chains, and
and
strife;
sell
I 've seen the priest and man-thief
His brother man for
life.
94
XXVII.
NO ENEMIES.
*'1Ie has no enemies!" you say.
1 pity his condition;
His manhood he has thrown away,

itis
candour and position.
'^He has no enemies!"
Well, then,
The
Has
reason
is,
he never
when
heart enough to act but

sees
He
"which wav's the weather/'
His principles are very

If he
is
light,
not contented
To be
traduced for doing right,
When
once he has assented.
NO ENEMIES.
95
'^He has no enemies "

!
Indeed
Then what
has he been doinii?

liis
Or, what on earth can be
creed
What
has he been pursuing?
A truckhncjvacillatini; course,
Unmanly, undecided;
I.
His
Uttle
puny soul
is
worse
I
Tlian sixpence twice divided
Then
give
me
one of upright
lieai't,
Who
And
dares the truth to utter,
act a nobler, manlier part,
Though enemies do
mutter.
A man of earnest,
Whose enemies
iron will.
are
many;
and
skill,
And
yet,
whose
virtue, strength,
an}'
Are undeterred by
9G
NO ENEMIES.
Whose
fearless love for truth
and
ritjlit
Keeps falsehood ever distant;
And though
he
may be
crushed by might,
Yet always
acts consistent.
Aye
like the sturdy forest oak,

rattle,
Through which the winds do
Stands firmer from the heavy stroke.
Prepared for Truth to
battle.
Such
is
the man, whose noble soul,
When
Or
rousod to proper action.
Disdains a sordid, base control,

enemies' detraction.
Who knows, when

That time
is
virtue
's
lost or fled.
really trying
is
For
if
the
man
not then dead.
He
truly
must be dying.

97
XXVIII.
WHAT
IS
A SLAVE
A SLAVE iswhat ?
A thing that's got

Nothing, and that alone
!
His time
his wife
And
He
e'en his Hfe,
dare not call his own.
A slave
Ah
!
is
what
dreadful lot
's
Is his that
doomed
to
toil,
Without regard,
Or
Upon
just reward,
soil.
another's
98
WHAT
TS
A SLAVE?
A shne
All
!
is
what
.^
cruel thought,
That
should have to be,

strife,
In constant
Thi'oughout
my
life,
Deprived of
liberty.
A slave what 1 A perfect naught.

is
Shorn of
his legal right
And
To
then compelled
work, he's held.

of his
life.
The remnant
A slave what 1 A being bought,

is
Or
stolen
from himself,
By
For
Christians,
who
This trade pursue,

sordid, paltry pelf.

WHAT
IS
A SLAVE?
i)9
A slave what ? A being sought

is
Tliroughout
this
wide domain
glen,
Through bog and
By
dogs and men,
For lucre
cursed gain
is
A slave
I
Insist
;
what
pray do not
I cannot know,
Nor words
impart,
art,
Or, painter's
Describe a slave
ah,
no
A slave
The
is
what?
Tell I can not,

task I would not cra\'e
If you would know,
Then
straightway go,
And
be yourself a shne!

100
XXIX.
ON PREJUDICE.
What
green-ey'd monster
now
is this,
Strolling our land o'er in triumph
With great boldness? Whence his
country,
Or
his
home?
Stranger
is
he, or,
Native of our land, peculiar?

Indigenous, or by whatever
Name
is
he known?
If he be friend,
He
comv^s in shapes
most comely,
Yet most questionable; indeed,
The mark
His brow.
of falsehood
is
upon
He
has and wears a face

his very
his
it
Double
nay more, e'en Judgments warped are

Single.
eye not
not!
/
Reason! he hath
Nor
will
he be reasoned with.
Yet most mlily hath he entwined
ON BUBBLES.
Himself among, around statesmen,
Politicians.
101
In sanctuaries
Hath
lie
gone, throwing his influence
There among
Poisoning
(
corrupting, and, yea

the clear, pure streams
all
)f piety
and peace.
is.
The name
He
bears
Prejudice!
his
home
America!
birthplace, the pit!
XXX.
ON BUBBLES.
Often,
in
our waking dreams,
We invent a thousand schemes,

That bring with them
But, too
late !
troubles
we
find, indeed,
That, alas! they can't succeed,
And
are
empty bubbles.

102
ON HUBIJLES.
Men
are seen, witli anxious care,
" Building castles in the air,"
With an
But
interest double;
their fancied visions bright,
By
experience brought to Hght,
Are but one
great bubble.
Some
And,
are preaching to their shame;

to get a godly
name,
Preach a language double;
Drag the Holy

Justify the
Scriptures
of Sin,
hi,
Man
And secure
a bubble.
Men
of genius,
skill,
and
art.
Statesmen, lawyers, and, in short,
All experience trouble.
After wasting years and health.
To
procure a name, or wealth.
Find they 've but a bubble.

lOi)
nitING FLOWEllS.
Then,
if
peace
we wish
below,
Our
joys
from Heaven must flow

exertions double;
in view,
Our
So,
when death appears
We may
bid the world adieu,

its
With
mighty bubble.
'
XXXT.
BRING FLOWERS.
BRiNCi flowers
gay
flowêrs, to
garnish the tondj,

feeble
Where, enshrined, the poor

rest;
body
shall
Ijet violets
and
dahlias continue to bloom,
Be
careful to keep
,
them well
dress'd.
*
How
very desirous to select a place where.

flue gravelled walks,
With
and high iron
rail.
Where gay
roses
grow with profusion and

so frail
care,
To
inter the
body

104
'Tis well
!
BRING FLOWERS.
but
how many
forget the poor soul
Is vastly
more
lasting than poor feeble dust

it
Neglect to preserve
a mansion or goal.
With God and
the holy and just.
Let
flattering tombstones of
marble denote
decaying to dust
The
places
where wealth
is
And
epitaphs tell of their virtues in rote,
How
wise they have lived, and
how just.
Bring flowers
grave
sweet
flowers, to strew on the
Where virtue neglected lies hid from the eyes,
And
where
brave.
lie
the righteous, the noble, and
Till called
from above
to arise.
105
XXXII.
THE CAPTIVE.
By
the wayside lay a poor bleeding stranger,

forsaken, in anguish and pain,
Lone and
Sore and oppressed
in
imminent danger
begging in vain.
Begging
for mercy, but
Many
pass'd
by him who saw
his dejection.
Yet none
in their kindness his deep wants
relieved
Both "Priest and Levite" passed by in succession.
With
cold-like indifference to the bereav'd.
Some thought him so poor, so hopelessly mangled,

That
to assist
him would do him no good
And
each with the other alternately wrangled,

best for
What was
him
removal or food.
106
THE CAPTIVE.
Churchmen, and lawyers, and keen politicians,
The
rich in chariots, rode

dispos'd to
by
in haste
None seemed
shew
e'en compassion
To
one, in their view, so
mean and
debased.
At
length, one proposed for
him
colonization.
Who said, "He ne'er can get well while he 's

here;
Besides, I detest an amalgamation.
Which will be
the case, as seems to appear."

9
\
While
this debate
was in rapid progression.
Preacher and man-thief were found to agree
A "fanatic" cried out,

Heal the poor
"This
is
oppression,
set
captive,
and then
him free."

107
XXXIII.
LINES
On hearing of the Burning
'
of the Steamer
" Lexington."
See! the boat
is
dashing onward,
Through the
trackless ocean, bold,
While the merry
chit-chat gaily
Echoes- through her splendid hold.
But, amidst the busy concourse,
Hark
"Fire!
there
is
a sudden cry,
fire! fire!
the boat's on
I
fire!
Oh, have mercy
must we die?"
" Where's
my
treasure?
must I
lose it?
Where's
my husband,
brother, friend?
Some
are burning! some are drowning!

is
Ah! woe's me,
this their
end?"
108
life's struggle.
Some on
bales of cotton
venture-
Others, desperate, try to leap;
Some attempt the

But
boats to enter,
are plunged into the deep.
Still
the boat
is fiercely
burning,
Hopes of life
for ever fled

for ever.
One
last look,
and then,
All are numbered with the dead
XXXIV.
LIFE'S STRUGGLE.
Life
is
a splendid vision.
Short and bright;
Then should we make
provision
To do what 's
right.
109
life's struggle.
Press onward
struggle
with zeal
ever,
Work
Time
waits on mortals never
Life
life is real!
If
we should
find a creature
imbless'd,
Who's
Care-worn in every feature,
And
sore distress'd;
Stretch forth the hand of kindness,
And
sustain.
One, who through mental blindness,
May have
If
been
slain.
you should
find another,
Who
Ask
not,
has need,
this
"Is
my
brother?"
But
help with speed.
110
life's struggle.
If you can soothe his sorrow,
Don't delay;
Stay not "until to-morrow !"-
Haste
haste away!
onward urging
soul;
Old Time
is
Every
And
all
are swiftly verging to the goal.
On
Therefore, be ever ready
Thus
Truth
to declare
to the poor
and needy,
Everywhere.
Thought
that seems a
its birth,
trifle
In
Although we partly
stifle.
May
shake the earth.

life's struggle.
\\
Ill
Then,
If
some thought or other
Should leak out,

It
may
assist
a brother,
And
One
ease a doubt.
word, one pleasant feature.
Has
reliev'd
A needy fellow-creature,
When
aggrieVd!
Nature around
is
busy
Why should we
Remain
contehted, easy,
Continually?
Though
life is
but a bubble
Here below,
And
a continual trouble
Where'er we
go,
112
life's struggle.
Yet,
it
hath
many
lessons
To
impart,
And
brings a thousand blessings
Around
the heart.
Who would not

And
do a favour,
If he could
thereby help a neighbour.
Just as he should?
Work,
then, while
you have power,-
Work and
wait;
Lest there should come an hour
When
Work
Be
for
it is
too late.
God and
one another,
Work
with zeal
candid with your brother;

Life
^life is
real!

113
XXXV.
THE TREE.
This
tree, this fine old tiee!
Must needs be trimm'd

Its fruits, deliciously.
this year,
Will then again appear,
And
well repay the labour lent
Besides the time
we Ve on
it
spent.
This
is
the talk of some

certain tree,
About a
Whose
very fruit alone
Brings death an(J misery;
And yet
they say
it
it 's fit
for food.
And
trim
for the nation's good.
114
ON DEATH.
Thus have we, many
years,
Tliis tree of slav'ry fed,
Until
its
root appears
Quite far from dead;
But rnther ^'own
so tall
and great
As
to have seal'd the nation's fate.
XXXVI.
ON DEATH.
' -
O Death
Must
all
thou scourge most mighty, thou
to thy dread
summons bow?
shield thy dart!
Oh, stay thy coming,

In thee are
all
to share a part?
Wilt thou respect no dignity?
Must
nobles and the peasantry
Be
subject to thy great
command?
Insatiate, cease to scourge the land!
ON
Thou
DKATII.
life,
115
great destroyer of our
Hast thou no pity
for the wife,
Or husband,
brother, orphan, say?
Prolong for them another day.
Consumption, palsy, plague, and pain,
Are due attendants on thy

Before thee go
train.
invite thee on.
To
finish
what they have begun.
Death! when
wê
shall
our labour cease.
And
And
from terror
find release?
free,
When
shall
we from thy pangs be
death be lost in victory?
116
XXXVII.
THE SLAVE'S LAMENT.
Can
it
be so?
Has God intended
Me
To
to
be another's slave ?
anguish, undefended,
toil in
From
Yes, and
the cradle to the grave;
bow my head
in sorrow,
Lest I
live to see the
morrow?
If so,
why am
I not contented
To endure
this hateful chain?
Why have
Schemes
I constantly invented
my
liberty to gain
And
with firm, heroic brav'ry,
Ventured
my life
to flee
from
slav'ry?
"
ACKOSTIC.
117
No! God,
That
is
in tnith,
condemns a system
vile,
wretched,
and base
And
Of
Now,
e'en all nature bids the victim

it
" fly from
its
embrace
I bid adieu to slav'ry
Its woes, its wrongs, its
cunning knav'ry.
XXXVIII.
ACROSTIC.
M EEKLY, at an important post

bey thy Maker-^Lord
E egardless of a scornful host, D eclare His truth abroad.

E ndeavor to
C onstant,
sustain the right,
true,
and
clear;
A sk Him to aid you by His might,

1 n goodness persevere
; !
118
ACROSTIC.
it
M ake
a point to help the poor,
A ncl succour the oppressed N ever consent to bar their door,
N or give their tyrants rest.

Alone! you cannot be
alone!
ince truth
is
always nigh,
So
persevere! assur'd that

still
One
A bove,
C all'd
reigns on high
to defend a brother's cause,
L et heart,
and tongue, and pen,
A nd conscience, plead that righteous laws

R emain to govern, then
K eep thou in view the right.Âmen
119
XXXIX.
HYMN,
On the Celebration of the Freedom West Indies,
Let's
celebrate this day,
holy, mirthful glee,
of the
With
And
to the
set
God
of ages pray.
Who
the captives free.
This day we sing
Thy
praise,
And
dedicate to Thee,
Because eight hundred thousand slaves

Eeceived their liberty!
'Twas Thy great power that wrought

This bloodless victory
That brought
th' enslaver's
pow'r to naught.
And made Thy
people free
120
Their birthright
AUTUMN.
now they
claim,
Free from the master's rod;
And nowin
Freedom's sacred name
They worship only God.
Free! by
Thy power Thy
divine!
rest!
Free to enjoy
Free
may
their hearts to
blest
Thee
incline,
And
be for ever
XL.
AUTUMN.
Autumn
Thy
!
I love thy tinted looks,
fading leaves, and rippling brooks,
And
Thy
variegated flowers;
cooling winds and wither'd grass,

blast,
Precursor of the stormy
And
fluctuating showers.
;;
AUTUMN.
121
Thy
cloudy days and sultry nights,

ripen'd fruits and pleasant sights,
Tell, in
And
language plain,
frigid looks are seen
That thou, whose

In blighted
trees,
with yellow, green.

again.
Hath caird on us
Thy
varied
hills
and vernal
plains.
Wide fields,
are stock'd with ripened grains.
And
Indian summer's sun

of the sky.
The crimson shadows
And
transient clouds rush swiftly by.
And
The
tell us,
Summer's done.
cat-bird's pensive notes, unheard.
The keen winds
blow, and eVry bird
Is silent through the land
The
varied foliage
is
seen,
Autumnal
glory reigns supreme.
Spread by Almighty hand.
122
AUTUMN.
Autumn
I love thy cloudy sky,

storms that pass us by,
Thy many
Thy
As
not infrequent rain;

still
ancient time
steals
away
" Our years, and makes our whiskers gray,"

Permits us to remain.
Thy
annual
visit
and decay
Teach us a
lesson, that
we may
By
To
learning well, prepare
live consistently below.
And
be prepared, when call'd to go.
The common
fate to share.
123
XLI.
ODE TO DEITY.
Not
Be
unto
us,
but unto Thee,
endless praises given,

eternity,
In time and in
On
earth,
and then in heaven
For Thou
art
worthy
to
be praised
By
all
that dwell above;
And saints on earth their songs have raised

For Thy redeeming
love.
Creative goodness speaks
Thy
power.
While nature shows Thy
skill;
And
ev'ry
moment
ev'ry hour
still.
Proclaim
Thy
favour
124
GOD SPEED.
If angels worship God, their King,
And
To
pay
Him
honours due,
Christians gladly sing
Why should not
their Creator too?
Dear Lord!
inspire our hearts anew.
To run the heavenly
race
in view
With hope and happiness

Until
we
see
Thy
face
XLII.
GOD SPEED.
God
May
speed the temperance cause
this favour'd land
Throughout
nations
to
its
make
their laws
Bow
mild command!
Until intemperance
No more
pollutes the
soil.
But peace and competence
Keward our
toil

! !
(iOD SPEED.
125
Intemperance has spread

*
Its
poisoned stream has rmi
O'er young and hoary head

O'er father and o'er son
But
since a light, not small,
Has shone along our way.
We hope King Alcohol

Has had
his
day
Then
let
united aim,
To
save our fellow-men
From drunkenness and
pain
And
degradation,
Shall
then
longer be
men no
Enslaved by drinking rum,
But from
its
wiles be free
All time to come!
12()
XLIII.
ODE.
In bonds
of friendship sweet,
To
soothe each other's woe,
Samaria's sons and daughters meet
In lodges here below.
While
selfishness
and
sin
Cause thousands to lament,

These consecrated walls within,
We here behold content.

By
obligations
bound
Intemperance to shun,
Oh, may we constantly be found
The enemies
of
rum

THE REAPER.
127
sin,
And
vice,
and crime, and
And
enmity, and pain.

suffered to
Be never
come
in
To mar
our peace again
Until we 're called away
To
the
Grand Lodge
above.
And
To
praise
and adoration pay
purity and love.
XLIV.
THE REAPER.
There 's
Ever
a reaper
who 's been reaping

began,
since
"Old Time"
And
he claims for
his theatre.
Earth,
and
for his harvest,
man
128
'
THE KEAPER.
On
the battle-field he rcapeth, the way-side, on the sea,

this
By
Everywhere
Reapeth
mighty reaper
frail
mortality.
Unlike 'most
all
other reapers.
their crops decay,
Who ne'er let

He
Reaps
reaps on, the rapid reaper
but
lets
the harvest lay.
Since this reaper began reaping,

Millions have
by him been
life's
hurl'd,
And
have, from
busy scenes, been
Gathered
to the " spirit-world."
Though he
Still
has been constant reaping,

is
the harvest
not done;
tells
Whilst he passes by, he
us
That our reaping-time
will
come.
THE REAPER.
129
Stern and bold this reaper
's
reaping
And
his locks are thin
and white,
sickle,
Yet he bravely wields the
And
is
roaping day and night.
No
distinction does this reaper
Make
Some
but reaps without delay;
of ev'ry tongue and nation
Have by him been swept away.
If
we 're ready
In the
final
for this reaper.

strife,
deadly
When
the conflict 's fairly over
We shall enter into life.

lao
XLV.
ODE.
Behold
a noble band,
United heart and hand,
To keep from rum!
Who now
All
stand pledged to save.

brave,
men and women
From
the poor drunkard's grave,
All time to come.
We raise our banners high,

Old Alcohol defy
We scorn his power!

Samaria's daughters, we,
And
sons, are
pledged to be.
In bonds of unity,
This sacred hour.
ODE.
131
And
in the
hour of prayer
ether's care
We feel each
And now and
In friendship bind.
ever more
restore,
The wounded we '11
And
feed and clothe the poor
Of all mankind.
In
this,
our humble sphere,

here.
While thus we journey
We
And
'11
raise
our voice.
with a noble shout.

find the
We
'11
drunkard
out.
And turn him

And
right about.
then rejoice
Our "Grand Master" on
high,
Wlio reigns triumphantly.
And
dwells above.
132
FORGET THEE.
Bids us go on, and bind
The worst The
of
human kind
poor, the halt, the blind
With
cords of love.
Then, when our work
is
done,
When
the last sand
is
run,
When we 're
Then may
oui.^
no more
sentence be
" Thou hast done faithfully,
Enter
eternity.
Thy God
adore!"
XLVI.
FORGET THEE.
Forget
The
thee! no, not I indeed
time appears as yesterday.
And
thoughts bring back again with speed

simple words
The
we used
to say.
FORGET THEE.
Forget thee! no, I cannot while
I think,
133
and reason doth
its part,
Thy featuresformthy very
smile,
Have made an impress on my
heart.
Forget thee!
yes,
indeed I may.
When
And
Not
nature withers through neglect,

stars
sun grows dim, and
decay;
until then can I forget.
Forget thee
Until
all
can I
surely not
things shall cease to be
Till earth itself shall
be forgot.
And
time breaks in eternity.

-34
XLVII.
TO WRITE.
Upon being asked to write
Miss A.
C. C.
in
an Album by
To
write in your "
Album "
am
not inclined,
Although I no reason can

Unless I should
tell
give,
you I scarce have a mind
To
utter a thought that should live.
But
since
you
insist, I
suppose I must try

can,
this
So here goes to do what I

!
Why, bless me my thoughts have

gone by
moment
The
truants,
how
swiftly they ran!

TO WRITE.
135
To
write right, the right
way would be
to
\
write well,
Yet who can
write well without thought?
And
if
the right thoughts will for ever rebel,
How
can I write !ght as I ought?
Then how can I

Miss,
write in your
"Album," dear
If fugitive thoughts will not stay?

I hope you
'11
excuse an occasion like this
So, therefore, I bid you good-day.
But
stay,
should wonder, can thoughts run
away
From one who
never had any?
This problem I leave you to solve as you may.
Your " Album "
will solve it to
many.
136
XliVllI.
LINES
On the Death of a
Child, J. W., aged 11 years.
Like
a transient shining light,
From
beneath a cloudless sky,
Like a swift-wing'd seraph bright,
Thou
hast gone to realms on high.
Though
so
few thy days on earth,

held thee fast.
the second birth
past.
And
affliction
Yet thou knew'st
Ere eleven years had
Testimony thou didst
leave.
infant's tongue;
Seldom heard from
Father, mother, do not grieve
For
my
loss,
although so young.

VrHO HATH COURAGE?
Mother, do not angels sing?
Oil
!
137
I long with
them
to be,
Praising God,
my
Saviour King;
Mother, will not you meet me,
Meet me where the weary
rest.
Where Where
affliction is
unknow^n,
are bless'd
:
the saints of
God
Meet me round
my
Father's throne
XLIX.
WHO HATH COUEAGE
Who hath courage ?

Leading in the
Not the hero

strife.
To
receive a nation's plaudits,
For
his waste of
life.
138
WHO HATH COURAGE?
Whoj
then,
is it
that hath courage ?
He
Act up
alone
who
dares
to his
own
convictions,
And
the right declares.
Who
To
hath courage?
Not the tyrant

skill,
Boasting of his
enslave and bind his fellow
At
his simple will.
Who,
then,
is it
that hath courage ?
He
Unto
that doth proclaim.

right to freedom.
all their
Every man the same.
A^nîo
hath courage ?
Not the
one.
sober,
Or untempted
Who hath
never had his stomach
Eaten out bv rum.
AVHO HATH COURAGE?
139
Who,
then,
is it
that hath courage ?
He who
Have been
though he may
using poison freely,
Throws the cup away.
Who
hath courage ?
Not
tlie
daring,
Reckless pugilist.
Who
for Avager smites a brother,
With
uplifted
fist.
Who,
then,
is it
that hath courage
He
Every
that
won t
resent
little insult
given
With
a base intent.
140
L.
YEARS.
After
Our
a few short years
race will have been run
This short probation given us
Will end beneath the sun.
LI.
CHEER
UP.
Cheer
Pain
up, brother;
will cease
why
dejected?
and sorrows end.
Why discourag'd if neglected?

Just look upwards, there 's a friend.
Cheer up, brother; there's a power
That upholds when none
is
near
And
through
all life's
darkest hour
fear.
Whispers sweetly
do not
CHEER UP.
141
Cheer up, brother; though the mouutain
May
From
be rugged, rough, and high.
its
apex flows a fountain
Slake your thirst whenever dry.
Cheer up, brother; though oppression

Stalketh boldly hand in hand,
Girt with truth
keep
self-possession,
Thou
slialt
reach a better land.
Cheer up, brother;
in the distance
star,
May
See
be seen a single
life's
All throughout
it,
poor existence.
brightly beaming there.
Cheer up, brother; angels hover

All around you in the
strife,
With
their golden pinions cover

life.
O'er the path to endless
142
THE pauper's
GllAVE.
Cheer up, brother; don't be fearful
Though
the raging billows roar,
Full of hope and faith, be cheerful,
There are millions on before.
Cheer up, brother; why thus slumber!?

Battle manfully
and brave
There
is
yet an untold
number
will save.
That in mercy Christ
LII.
THE PAUPER'S GRAVE.
No
Or
friend to wipe the sweat of death
From
kindred,
off his face,
when he drew
In
his breath
this deserted place.
THE pauper's grave.

So, here he
lies
14:^
beneath the
soil,
Where
The
wild weeds grow,
poor, the pauper, freed
from
toil,
In rough-hewn boxes low.
No
marble monument to
tell.
In doubtful
truth.
That he had acted
ill
or well
youtli.
In hoary age or
A simple board
In
is all
that
's
seen.
Or
points to where
silence sleeps the poor plebeian,
Eeleas'd from earthly care.
144
LTII.
THE
CRISIS.
When
Do
crisis
heaves in view,
it
Manfully meet
not shrink or be dismay'd,

Cheerfully greet
it.
All dangers mostly end by
Strong opposition;
Then take a
noble stand, and
A firm position.
Like trees whose
roots are deep,
and
Whose
Firmly
branches flowing,
resist
the shock, while

is
The storm
blowing.
THE
CKISIS.
145
Then be not
recreant, and
Do
And
not disenible,
crisis
wlien the
comes, like
coward tremble.
Clouds that are threatening, and

Fill us
with sorrow,
Oft bring a blessing on with
The
early morrow.
Then manfidly
resist,
with
A firm reliance;
Trusting to Providence, meet
It with defiance.
146
LTV.
AN
ACROSTIC.
W E have
li ighting
seen thee, years ago,
I n our early manhood days,
up a world below,
L ike a comet in full blaze.

I nto Slav'r^s dark abode
11
the
fire
of truth was sent;
M any trembl'd at the word,

L ike an aspen tree when bent. O nwardis thy motto
still,
Y oung and old have followed thee,

E v'n almost against
their will,
D riv'n to plead for liberty.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
147
G o on pleading for the dumb,

A. Ithough held forth as a
knave
R eckless thou art call'd by some, E ob'd in truth, be valiantbrave.

I f thou can'st not live to see
lav'ry
from
this nation driv'n,
O h!
may'st thou rewarded be,
N ot on earth, but high in heav'n.
LV.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
On the Death
of Caroline Millen Clark,
1857.
who
Died 1st December,
Just
like a rose in early spring.
That blooms and withers
in a day;
So thou, poor
fragile sickly thing,
Was
early call'd away.

148
REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
'Tis
hard indeed to bid farewell

belov'd, so
To one
None but
young and mild;

tell
a parent's heart can
The
love he bears his child.
Yfe stood around thy dying bed,
We heard thee offer up

Come, and
a prayer
said,
Unto thy Father God; who
my kingdom
share.
We know that thou art call'd away,

But, ah!
'tis
hard with thee to part;
It breaks the tender ties that lay
Entwined around the
heart.
'Twas in the budding time of life.
Ere crime had made
its
deadly stain.
strife.
Thou
left
a world of sin and
In heaven above to reign.
PILGRIM.
149
little wliile,
then, Caroline,
In that bright world we '11 meet again.
Where,
like the sun,
thou shalt outshine.
Among
the holy train.
LVI.
PILGRIM.
PiLGEiM on the
Through
There
will
toilsome way.
this vale of sorrow.
be a better
till
clay,
Wrestle
the morrow.
Say not
that
your trouble 's
great.
Or your
conflicts
many;
^âit,
On
your Heavenly Father

doth succour
an}'.
He
150
PILGRIM.
All the holy righteous dead,
All the martyrs bleeding,
Are but just gone on

Press on
a-head,
never heeding.
struggled on,
fire;
They through blood have

Through
the flames
and
But they now can

Jesus,
look ujôn
and admire.
Are you tempted
to look back.
Give the struggle over?
Think of those who, on the
rack,
Prais'd the great Jehovah.
Pilgrim on the toilsome way.
Through
this vale of sorrow.
Surely there 's a better dav,
There 's a brighter morrow.

151
LVII.
NO ENERGY.
In
all
my
life
I never
knew
it.
A creature to do well without

What
!
have no energy to do.

yet succeed?
And
really doubt
it.
Then why
"This
sit
down
at ease
and say
>
can't be done, that, or the other:

faith.
In such a man I have no
No
What
And
matter
who may be
his
mother.
think ye of the farmer
who
Neglects to sow his grain in season,

yet expects to reap the fniit
;
In time
think ye he acts with reason
'?
ir)2
NO ENERGY.
The man
of energ}^ will dare

suits
liis
To do what
will or pleasure;
fail,
Though thousands
Yet he
^11
around him
secures the honoured treasure.
'Tis energy that guides the plough,
And makes
And makes
the steamer roar
and
rattle,
Directs the ship in every port,

the hero dare in battle.
In
all
my
he
sit
life
I never
knew
to stumble.
The
Or,
if
energetic
fails in
man
one attempt.
to grumble.
To
down and begin
"
What man
^'
has done
may
any
yet,"
he
cries,
Be done by man
will try,
in
station
.
So I
and try again,
And
bid defiance to the nation."
153
LVIII.
ACROSTIC,
.V
A. C. C.
LTHOUGii
possessed of
youth and
licaltli,
Ij et
not vain thoughts abound,
M idst every flower, as by stealth,

I
nsects will oft be found.
E. eniem]3er
then
remember when
fail,
11
things in time will
C oolly
li
survey the future, then
egard this earth as fraiL
A ges have proved this saying true,
N or can
it
be denied,
1) espite of all that
men
can do,
E vil will flow from pride L et meekness guide your course through life,
Love, virtue, truth, and grace.
154
AN
avoid
all
EPIT-\PH.
needless
strife,
C almly
L eading you to
disgrace,
A Imirathis I bid you do,

Respect yourself, the right pursue;
K eep this advice always in view.
LIX.
AN EPITAPH
ON MY DOG TURK.
The
last
remains of " Turk "
lie
here,
Who
ne'er
was known to
shrink, or fear
The
Poor "Turk"
face of interloper
wâs ever, soon or late,
From puppy up
to dog's estate,
A foe to thief or loafer.

So thus upon a
certain day.
As " Turk
" stole out,
some thought to play,

from
his master.
Or
to hide
DO THEY
Oh, cruel
fate
!
MISS
ME?
155
lie
was shot dead
The ball
pass'd through the poor dog's head
Such was
his sad disaster.
Now,
all
the canine race
may
take
fate,
Warning by " Turk's " unhappy
And
Nor bark
or bite,
learn to stay at
snarl
home
and
and
scout,
Or
break their chains and run about.
When
call'd,
refuse to come.
LX.
DO THEY MISS ME?

A PARODY.
"Do they miss me

To know
that I
at
home
do they miss me?

to
>>
'Twould be an assurance
me.
'm
really forgotten.
My face they
could never more see.
156
1)0
THEY MISS ME?
"Do
By
And
they miss
mc
at
home
do they miss me?'*

tlie corn-field,
light, as the
horn echoes loud,
the slaves are marched off to
I 'm miss'd from that half-naked crowd.
"Do
they miss
me
at
home
do they miss me?"

dirt,
The
hut, with
its
bare floor of
is
Where
the ash-cake
waiting to greet me.

thankless day's work.
When
"Do
As
done with
my
they miss
me
at
home
do they miss me?''

my
fly.
The
driver his lash used to ply.
the blood trickl'd

flesh
down from
body would
shoulders
The
from
my
at
"Do they miss me
home
do they miss me?"

my
track.
The blood-hounds
are scenting
And
for long
weary days they have hunted.

hurry
In order
to
me
back.
Gossir.
IT) 7
^^Do they miss
mo
are
at
home
do
tliey
miss
me?"
The pockets
^^"hile
empty of
's
cash,
the auction-block
waiting to meet
me
The
trader stands by with his hish.
"Do
they miss
me
at
home
do they miss me?"
In the
fields of rice,
sugar, and grain
If they do, I
am
glad, I assure you,
They never
shall see
me
again.
LXI.
GOSSIP!
On
Mrs.
A
Mr.
have you not heard

the town
?
The news around

'Tis said that
B
Brown
wâs seen
To
look at Mrs.
Then Mr. C
Don't
tell it
I really heard,
life,
for your
Has
just determin'd, only think.
To make Miss
his wife
158
GOSSIP.
And Mr. E
Be
is iroiiiij
to
I promis'd not to married to Miss
tell
F
'11
down
street
'Tis thought tliat she
do well.
The news
is
now, that young Miss G-
Is dead in love with
But now, they
say,
he does not
care,
He 's
courting Sally Baicli.
call'd
on
me
if
the other day,
And
ask'd
me
I could
to J-
Speak a good word for him
But do you think I would?
Why,
there
is
that prims so much.
And
They
dresses very gay;
tell
me
she 's engag'd to

all
But I doubt
they say
GOSSIP.
150
What
do you think of
says
!
M
O
's
new
coat ?
N
Dear me
That
it
don't look well.

flirt
what makes
's
so
much ?
P
call'd
a perfect swell
Q
And
Of
the
on
me
the other day,

I thought
ask'd
me what
new
dress that
had
on,
The
other day she bought.
The bonnet
They
that Miss
had
on,
said,
came
o'er the sea;
But young Miss
said
U
Y
,
.
told her,
'Twas bought up town of
W
Y
There
thinks so
says
much
's
of
lips are
all
down
And now
I 've told you
the news
is
around the town.
100
LXII.
T^..
On
A
gentle
sir,
calm and secure,

pillow wake,
Lone on your
lady,
knocking at your door,

heart to break.
Has brought her

That heart
is
offer 'd to
you now;
prize,
Will you accept the
Or
disregard love's open aow.
And
hide
it
from your eves ?

not a dream
Ah, gentle
sir
love
's
Of fancied
But
vision bright
rather like a limpid stream

's
That
running day and night.
'Tis like a precious
gem
that lay
Within the earth
conceal'd,
Until the mighty orb of day

Its beauties
hath reveal'd.
161
LXIII.
ON THE
See
TIMES.
is
the prancing steed
foaming.
Eager
to enjoy the strife
As
it is
in exact keeping
With
With
the habits of his Hfe.
the blood up to the bridle,

is
He
courshig o'er the plain
And
the fields are thickly lying

tlie
With
bodies of the slahi.
Men
engaged
in deadly conflict,
Who
did heretofore agree,

striving,
Brother against brother
Desperate, yet ignobly.
Why are
Arming
men
thus in confusion.
Scarcely dreaming what they do,

to
engage a foeman.
really
Yet not
knowing who
'?
162
ON THE
TIMES.
Are they making
preparation
For a future deadly blow
The
great
work of "Armageddon"
earth below ?
To be fought on
Where
the birds shall

feast of
all
be gather d,
To enjoy a
God
And
the nations will be smitten

dire avenging rod.
By His
These are surely times of trouble
Men
are
fill'd
with dread dismay.

shall transpire,
Looking
for
what
At some
future coming day,
When
Of
this planet shall
be purged
its dross, its sin,
and shame.
And
the " King " possess the kingdom,
And "a
thousand years shall reign."
163
LXIV.
MEET IN HEAVEN. Ah!

As
shall
we meet
at last in lieav'n,
here on earth we meet;
And
there, redeem' d, with sins forgiv'n,
Each
other kindly greet?
What meet
!
in heav'n,
where Jesus
reimis.
In that resplendent sphere?

It will repay for all the pains
And
cares
we
suffered here.
We
Oh
!
'11
meet
in heav'n if faithful,
o'er;
when
These troublous times are

yes,
we '11 meet
in heav'n again,
As we 've met
heretofore.
164
It stands
MEET IX HEAVEN.
engravVl in solid brass,
And
They
to His people giv'n,
A promise,
that
if
true at last
in lieav'n.
all shall
meet
"Unto
Nor
the swift
Is
not the race,"
battle to the strong
But he who
treads the path of grace,

all
The journey
along.
To him
the prize
is
freely giv'n.
Who
He
struggles to the end
shall
enjoy a rest in heav'n,

Christ his friend.
A rest with
165
LXV.
BE JOYFUL!
Dedicated to the First Colored Regiment OF MiCHIGAX.
Two
Our
years gone bj, then
we were
told,
We do not want your aid

fighting- all
we mean
to do^
And
dying, too, 'twas said.
Now
truth maintains her ancient strife

slavery, loud
With
and long;
on,
In deadly grasp they struggle

Till right shall
conquer wrong.
Chorus
slavery
is
Oh Oh
it will
it
be joyful, joyful, joyful
will be joyful,
when
no more,
is
When
Then
slavery
is
no more, when slavery
no
more;
we'll
sing,
is
and
ofFering
bring,
when
slavery
no more.
16G
BE JOYFUL.
The wolverenes
The
of Miclilgan,
coloured first though new,
Will boldly to the contest march,
And
With
strike for
freedom
too.
Millican, Port
Hudson, and
Fort Waggoner in view.
We
'11
bleed and die for liberty.
As freemen
Chorus
only do.
!
Oh
that will be joyful, &c.
To make
our country wdiat
it
should,
Axas always been of right
A land of just and equal laws.

And
not of force and miffht
A place where not a fetter'd slave

Shall ever clank his chain;
But where, without regard

Freedom and truth
Chorus
to caste.
shall reign.
it
Oh
will
be joyful, &c.
BE JOYFUL.
167
What
then shall our status be,

victory shall be won,
[A^gj
And
When
marked, and scarred, with tattered
We from the battle come ? We care not what we then shall be,
For
if
we
're
true and brave.
Be what we
will,
with arms in hand.

a slave.
it
We won't be made
Chorus
Oh
will be joyful,
&c.
We fight
for
God and
truth,
lilêrty,
For justice,
and
right,
The freedom
of the helpless slave
Against the tyrant's might.
We do not doubt which will

In such a cause
as this;
succeed
The
bullets of a freeman's
arm
Were
never known to miss.
Chorus
Oil
it
will
be joyful, &c.
T|E.-
1()8
Bi;
JOYFUL.
We 've heard from Louisiana,

The Bay
.Vnd
last
State,
and from Penn,
not
least
here come the sons

,
Of good
-Viul
old Michigan.
now
three cheers for
Who
And
has the soldiers made.
three loud groans for copperheads

will not lend their aid.
Who
Chorus
Oh
it
will
be joyful,
c^c.

Benjamin Cutler Clark - The Past, Present and Future in Prose and Poetry (Microform) (1867)

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Benjamin Cutler Clark - The Past, Present and Future in Prose and Poetry (Microform) (1867)

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M-

and for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Without method, the following

thoughts on the Past, Present, and Future,

and the Poems contained in

commune with himself.

The only apology he

has to offer for the appearance of this

possibly assist in swelling the

tone of righteous indignation against a system

degraded a large portion of the

any wise accomplished, the

will patiently bear

under the impression

with that which,

at least well intended.

On THE Times, Meet in Heaven,

undersigned makes no pretension to educa-

having received but

than one year

at school in his life.

Indeed, he can well remember when, in the city

where he was born, an admiration would be

made when one

would be found who

could read in a newspaper.

a slave State in the city of

than thirty years of unrequited

the public in the character of an

Pennsylvania, raised a large family of children.

few loisnro momojits

be spared from the ordiiuiry avocations of

penned the Prose and Poetrv comprised

having seen and

some of the blessings of

the "peculiar institution,"

blessings they be;

identified with his brethren

some of the States of the Union,

a worse than Egyptian bondage;

indignation against a system of oppression and

upon a helpless and inoffensive

portion of his brethren,

his only apology for

appearing before the public.

that he renders liimself liable to the sneers of

some, and the severe criticism of

under an impression that what he has written

do some good, he willingly awaits the

time almost immemorial, the question of

man's present and future existence on earth,

Notwithstanding that more

than eighteen hundred years have elapsed, and

are near the terminus of the nine-

teenth centuiy of the Christian era, and that

race have died, yet man's present existstill

ence and future destiny

have seen the

surrounded by the present, and

greatly alarm us for the dark and mysterious

not therefore mere idle curiosity

that induces the author to publish the present

work; but claiming a right to think, he claims