Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-31
POETRY
JEpTl4s's RASH vow.

yEfSI
JEpTHs's RASH vow,
psrsifcd trortae ltS chapter ofJadges, By a
yoaag leidy Of Massachusetts,.
'rhe battle kadcess'd and thevict'ry was won,
The wild crv Of horror was DER,
Now arcsein his glory, the bright beaming sun,
And with him his journey the war chief begun,
With soul breathing vengeance no more'
Yhe foes ofhis countrvlav strsw'd on the plain,
A tear stole its coarse from his eys;
heawarr;os disdain'd ev'rv semblance OF pam,
He thought of his child-of his country again,
And sappr esd, while twas forming, sign.
ooh, Father of Kghtl'' said the conquering
chief, 81
ssThe vow which I made renew;
x Twas thy powerful arm gave the welcome
relief,
..When called onthy name IN the fitness OF
.And INV hopes were but cherries and few"
ssAn offering of love will Ipay to thy name.
..An offering thou wilt not despiss;
4.The first being meet when welcome g.
gain
ssThe land of nv fathers, I left not in vain,
s.With the flames on thine altar shall rise.
Z Now hushed were his words; through tho tar
spreading bands
Nought was heard, save the foot fall around;
Till his lips in wild JOY press his own native
lands,
And to Heaven are lifted his trembling hands,
While the silence is still and profound.
Oh listen! at distaace what wild music sounds,
And at distance, what maiden appears!
Seei forward she comes with light sPringins
bound,
And casts her mud eyes in fond extacy round,
For parent is seen thro' her tears.
Her harp's widest thrill gave strain of de-
light,
A moment she spring. to his arms;
ssMy daughter-Oh God" Not the horror OF
fight,
While legions on legions against him unite,
Could bring to his soul such alarms.
In wild horror he starts, as fiend had appear
ed,
His eyes IN mute agony close;
His sword DER his age-frostcd forehead -
reared,
Which with scars from his many fought bat
ties is sear'd, as
Nor his country or daughter he knows.
But sudden conviction in quick flashes told
That that daughter ives destined to dist
Oh, no longer could nature the will struggled
hold,
His grief issued forth unconstrain'd, uncon.
troll'd,
And the tears dimmsd his time withsr'd
eve
His daughter was weeping and claspias that
She meier touch'd, but with transport before,
His daughter was watching the laundering
Whose quick flashing lightning SO, madly de-
form'd,
A face beaming sunshine before.
But how did that daughter, so gentle and fair;
Hear the sentencethat doomed her to die?
For moment, was heard the wild cry of de-
spair,
For moment, her eye gave heart-meving
glare,
For moment, her bosom hsav'd high.
II was bet moment-the phrenzy was past,
She smilingly rushed to his arms;
And there. as flower, when child by the
blast,
Recllnes on the oak, till its fury be past,
On his bose a she hushed her alarms.
Not an eye saw the scene but wa. moistcn'd
with woe,
Not voice could sentence command;
Down the soldiers rough cheeks tears OF ago.
ny flow,
While the sobs of the maiden heavsd mourn.
full and slow;
Sad pity wept over the land.
But fed was the hope in the maiden's sad
breast, e~
From her tather's fond bosom she rose,
tIild virtue appeared In her manner contest.
She looked like a saint from the realms ct the
blest,
Not mortal encircled with woes.
She turned from the upe--and can declare
The hope and the fortitude given?
As she sunk on her knees with soulbreath.
ing prayer,
That her father might flourish of virtue the
care,
Till with glory he flcurished in Heaven.
ooh! comfort him Heaven when low in the
dust,
.dy limbs are inactively laid;
x,Oh! comfort him Heaven and let him then
trust, @