The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1822-11-06
yEPHTHAH's RASH vow.

tear stole its course lrons his eye;
The warrior disdaind eyry sersbIAnce OF pain,
lie thought Of his child os his country sga'n,
And suppressed while twas Iorn'ing' si8h'
Oh, Father oflight - said the congucrin8 CHIEF,
"The which made renew.
.'Twas thy powerful arm gave the welcome rehe,,
"When called on thy name IN The iuuess OF gYes'
sand my hopes were but cherries ana is"'
- An offering osiove will pay to thy name.
q. An offering thou wilt despiss;
4" The 6rst being meet when welcome again
"Thc land of my fathers, left not IN vain,
" Wills the flames thine altar shall rise."
Now hushssf were his words ,through the far.spread
ing bands
Nough WAS heard, save the football arounds
TIL his ips in wild Joy, press his native lands,
And to Heaven are ted his trembling hands,
While tive silence IS still and proioand.
oh listen (! AT distance what wild music sounds,
And at distance, what maiden appears!
See ! forward she comes, with light sPrlnEing
bound,
And CASTS her mild eyes IN fond eItacy round.
For parent is seen through her tears.
JTer barp's widest tI,ra gave a strain OF delight,
momeut--she sprngs to his arms Il.
my daughter-oh God !" Not the horror efEght,
While legons on legions against HIM unite,
Could bring to his soul such alarms.
fU wild horror Ire starts, as fend had spposr'a,
His eyes in mute agony close
1is sword o'cr his asefrosted forehead Is rsard,
Which with from his maoy-touShs battles ls
sear'd,
Nor bis country Or daughter Ne anows.
But sulden conviction, in quick aasbes told
That thaf daughter was destined TO die
Oh. no longer could nature the wild struggle hold,
Hs griei issued forth unconstrs'nd. uncontrolled,
AnI tpe tears dimmcd iis time Ylther'd eye
Ills daughter was weeping and clsspns that form
She ne'er touch'd, but with transport before,
His daughter was watching the laundering storm.
Whose quick f,shing lgh,ping go madIy dstorrned,
a face beaning suasb'ae bsiore
Bu, how did that daughter, so gentle and fair,
Hear the sentence that doomed her to die .
For moment, wss heard the wild cry Of despair,
For amsment, her eye gave heart.u,ovinB glare,
For n ponent. her bosom heAvd high.
" wa. oar a moment--the phrensy was past,
She smilingb ruhhed to his arms!
And there, as Abwer, when chill d by the BLAST,
Reclmss on the oak, ual its fury be post,
y On his bosom she hush'd hes alarms.
40, an eye saw tho sceHa but was mon,sn'd with
Not \ voice could sentence command,
Down the soldiers rough checks tears OF sgony
.. How,
While tie sobs OF the mslden beavsd monrRi1i and
slow;
Sad pity wept over ihs land. sass----
But tled was the hope, in the msiden's sad breansS
From her fathers fond bosom she rose,
Mild virtue appeared in her manner contest,
She looked like saint from the realms OF the bicst
Not mortal encirclcd with woes ,E..
She turned from the group and can declare
The hope and tor,itude giveni tii
n prayer,
That her father might nourish Of virtue the care,
Till with glory he hourished in heaven,
"Ohl comfort him Heaven when low in the dust,
"Aiy limbs are nactvey laid
J" Oh comfort him HeAvea and let him then trust
That free and immortal the souls oil the just,
Are in glory and beasty arrayed."
The maiden arose [; sud can pour,rsy
- The devotion ,hx, gowed IN hereyes
Religious sweet self, in its light seemd TO stray,
With ,he mdness OF night. with the glory et day,
But twas ply that prompted her siBh.
My father - the chief raised his dim weeping eye
With look OF unspezkabe wo;
- Ny father ~ her yuice seemed ceoru'sed with
Sigh,
T,n the tears, as they s,nhed from her griefswOic
Told more ,hsn her words could bestow.
The weakness was past and the maiden could say
"My father for thee can die !"
The bands slowly movd on their sorrowh,l way,
But never again, from that heart breaking day,
Was tear known 10 force its enlvcuing ray,
On the old ehieiiians sricf.speaking eye