Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-07-08
The Needle, Pen, and Sword.
BY T.. II. sIGouRNEY.

bi H. IL. slGOt hNLf.
What hast thou seen. with thy shining eye,
Thou Needle. 81 subtle, aud keen -
81 have been IN Paradise, stainless aud fair,
Aud ~ ted the 8lHOn of hg leaves there,
To the iorm OF It's fallen queen
The maniies aud wmpes, the hoods aud veis,
That the bellies oi judah wore.
When their naughty mein, aud their glance OF 1re
Entindled the eloquent prophets ire,
fbelpeJ to fashion of yorc.
The beade Il belt OF the Indian maid
have deck'd with as true II zeal
A. the gorgeous ran OF the knight of old
Or ir nonarchs mantle Of purple aud gold,
Or the sa,rap's broider'd heel
have lent to beauty new power TO reign,
Al bridal and cotrtly hall,
Or, welded to hIsbioiI, have help'd to biHt,
TFose y"sSamer links, that the strongest mind
Have sometimes held IN thrall.
have drawn drop, so round and red,
From the hnser small aud white,
oi the startled child. Ms she slrove with care
Uor doll Ia deck wiib some gewgaw rare,
ftn wept at my punctsrs bright.
h've gHz., IN The mothers patient brow,
ks my utmost speed rh. pIed,
10 shichi from wiDiet her children desI
Aud the kncll oi midnight smole her car,
WI hilr they slumber'd al her side.
have heard ~ The bu Ot tbe pining poor,
Jhe shiysrinJ inmates sigh,
W l-n iadrd the Aarinih of her last, faint brand,
A. slow, hOm her cold and clatDnlS hand,
Shv iet me drvI'-ru DIE
What dost thou know-lhou gray goose quiH
Aud mcihnnght, with spasn oi pride,
u sprang irOui the iDkstand aud futiefed In vain,
Its NH Ia tree from the ebOn stain,
Ms IervshIly replied -
"WnAT DO KNow!-lct the lover tell
When iutu his secret scroll
lie pouroth the breath oin magic Tyre,
aud ir.coih those ny stcnl lines Vi lre
mat move the niiiden's soul.
WAT 10 KNOW the wife can say
As The Ieaden SEASONS move,
And over the oceans widest sway,
y blrs,ed mission doth weud its way,
haprd 10y n husbands love.
Do ,e doubt my power !--Of the statesman ask -
Wbo bullets anbiiion's blast
Or tne cOaNict, who shriuks ~ his cell OF care
4 Aourish Of mine hath sent him there,
Aud f'ckeJ his letters last
Aud n flourish ~ mine can his prison ope,-
From the R-tilOVs its victim save
Itronh OH The treaty that Eings have bound,
Make the oaih OF n nation an empty sound,
And to liberty lead the slave.
SHy-what were History, so wise nnd old
Aud Science, that reads the sky,
Or how could music its sweetness store,
or Fancy and Fiction their treasures pour,
Or what were POesy's benyen-laught lore,
Should the pen its an deny
Oh.-,loubi ifyou will, that the rose Is fair,
That tue planets pursue their way,
Go, question the fires OF The noontide sun,
Cr the countless streams that TO ocean run,
But dsk nU more, what the Pen bath done, -
Aud II scornluiiy turn'd away.
What are thy deedS-ih"u fearful thing
By the lordly warriors side
Aud the sword answered-slern and slow
The hearth stone lone aud the orphan know,
Aud the pale aud widow d brid.
Tive shrek aud the shroud of the battle cloud,
Anl the Held that doth reek below,
fhe we'll that laps where the cash IL red,
Ahh IN" Nuliute that teHrs ere the life hath fled,
Aud the prowlins robber that strips tue dead,
Aud the oul by eDa know.
The rn-ied plough, aud the seed un,ovn,
And the grass that doth rauky grow
Ger the routing limb, aud the blood pool dark,
Gannt Famine, that quenches LIES lingering spark
And the black-wlngd PeslIlence know.
Death with the rush Of his happy brood,
sad earth, IN her pang aud throe,
Demons that riot IN slaughter aud crime,
Aud the throng oi the souls senI, before their time
10 the bar ol judgment, know"
Then the terrible Sword To his sheath returnn
while the Needle sped on ~ peace,
but the Pen traced out rom bn Ok sublime
Tbe promise aud pledge Ui that better iim0
When the warfare Of eurth shall cease.