Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-07-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
For The Bugle.
A SKETCH.

met on the ripping waves, and danced Wild
ly. Dark rocks frowned upon them, but they
leaped up, and, nesting upon their messy
bosoms, woke smiles and revealed thousands
Of flowers blooming there which might other
wise never have been seen. Twas like the
human heart, when the soft tones Of Kindness
are melting away the ice Of misanthropy ac-
cumulaled during winters Of neglect, and
flowers, too, are seen which were slckly In
the shadows, but grow and flourish in the
sunlight. Then they lit upon tie topmost
boughs Of tall trees, and begemmed them all
over with silvery sparkles, flung their long
shadows deep down into the crystal waters,
and they seemed TO connect wave and sky,
like love flowing out from the heart of
Deity, upon the heart human, and connect
ing it with the starry things of Heaven
They stole softly into the cup Of the vine
flower rocked by the wind, and whispered
such glorious things of their home, up in the
" azure Deep" that the little flower oped lis
dropping eyelid, and stretched forth lis tiny
tendrils for very joy. But Zephyrus breath
ed a rough censure upon such midnight vi
gils, and the beautiful vine was cast down to
a level with the blue violet, which wept a
dewdrop tear over its fate.
But moonbeam and starbeam passed on;
and tr~aversed the streets of a city. They
looked in where vice held its court, but drew
back afIrighted, for they heard rough voices
little like the willows music, and the air
was laden with odors which contrasted
strangely with the breath Of the water-lily,
which grew where they danced on the river.
They fell silently on the marble floors where
the rich man dwelt, slumbered mid the
maiden's curls, and kissed her slender fingers
folded on her g~uileless heart. But they could
not remain here, for oppression had stalked
lhro' marble doors and entered the rich mans
heart; and the winds played no music, for
they were burdened with signs breathed from
crushed spirits and moonbeam and starbeam
have their homes where spirits are not crush
ed, but learn their w mysteries, and hold
converse with the Deity.
There was one dark frowning house, which
seemed never 10 have heard the voice of child
hood in its happiness, and thither they went,
as 90 the followers of Christ TO dispense
light and love where there is darkness and
hatred. They q~uivered slightly on the boughs
of a s,inted maple which grew among the
bricks of the dusty pavement; for they saw
iron bars and massy doors which seemed
another home of oppression. But they crept
on tinidly, and entered the prisoners CELL
The glance of a murderer met them. He was
waiting here his doom ; he was praying in
agony of spirit. Twas sweet to witness his
penitence ; and they cIieered him awhile with
their mild radiance. Then went on through
dungeon and down staircase, and smiled as
they went, for this was not so wicked a place
as the rich mans home and innocence and re-
pentance were here mingled with guilt
They tarry longer now. They are resting on
young brows where the seal of innocence is
set, and they love these. There are two here
One is a little boy, may be a mothers pride
Why are they herel They cannot roam il
the green fields now nor hear the birds sing
nor chase the butterfly DER the wild flowers
and frighten the honey bee from its bed il
the roses heart. They can only see a few
bright stars through these prison bars ant
the glorious sun rises and sets, but
81 cheers them not. They pray now; it's
child's prayer and simple, but spirits wait t
B. carry it up to the throne. The elder says
"Father have pity upon us, we are little chi,
W dren, and our mother loves US dearly an
be oh she will be SO lonely when we are dow
es meath the southern sun away from her. l.,
mt us 60 back-away from this dreary plac
y that we may cheer her, for her lot is vel
hard" And the younger says "Amen."-
Is the prayer answered A voice is heal
like that of their fathers, and he himself h;
come to take them home. He drew forth Il
little one and placed him upon the grec
4, grass. The stars twinkled upon him just
they used TO do when his mother sang TO hi
n; in the cabin door, after returning from h
hard toll. The breezes kissed his brow, al
he almost fancied twas her lips which pres
ed it. lie bounded lightly over The sod, al
returned with his young blood mounting, al
gushing through his veins in his joy of fire.
dom. The father tried vainly to release t
elder, but those iron bars were too strong
be pressed aside, and he could not pass
tween them as the other had done. He tn
ed tearlully, and motioned the freed one
follow; but he still lingered-he would
go and leave his brother to be sold to
alone with no one to cheer him. The fat
urged, but in vain. The young, joyo
freed bird returned again into the gloo
cage that he might suffer with his broth
o! how moonbeam and starbeam rejoi
3 then. A food of light filled The room
cen the tear-droPs, those lucid drops shed
innocence, glistened like pearls on the da