The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-27

II bargainers will find.
Por the National Era.
A SABBATH SCENE.
Scarce had the solemn Sabbath bell
Ceased qulveriug in the steeple,
Scarce had the parson to his desk
Walked stately through his people
When down the summer shaded street
wasted female figure,
With dnsky brow and naked feet
Came rushing Wild and eager.
She saw the white spire through the trees,
She heard the sweet hymn swelling;
Oh, plying Christ! = refuge give
That poor one in Thy dwelling
Like scared fswn before the hounds,
Right up the aisle she glided,
wbfe close behind her, whip in hand,
A lank haired hunter strided.
She raised keen and bitter cry,
To Heaven and Earth appealing:
Were manhoOd's generous pulses deadl
Had womans heart no feeling2
score of stout hands rose between
. ia h~->-- ~-' 80 6.,'s>..
-, ---------- 1890 80, $780, ----.---,.T' .
Flashed tearfaJ, yet defyiDg.
Who dares prOisne this house and day!'
Cried out the angry pastor.
"Why, bless your soul, the wench's slave,
And Pm her lord and master!
{" I've law and gospel on my side,
And who shall dare refuse metz
Down came the parsOn, howing low,
My good sir, pray excuse me!
"Of course | know your right divine
Gown and work and whip her;
Quick, deacon, throw that PolyglOtt
Before the wench, and trip hertz
Plump dropped the holy tome, and DER
Its sacred pages stumbling,
Bound hand and foot, slave once more
The hapless wretch lay trembling.
saw the psrson tie the knots
The while his iock addressing,
The Scriptural claims Of slavery
With text ON text impressing.
Although" said he, "On Sabbath day,
All secular occupations
Are deadly sins, we must fulnll
;, an, Asral sS,,satiOns: ~,
~ "ADa..ss- sS,-S-.- - 'h--'S--1T-
To every conscience tender;
As Paul sent back Onssimus,
MY Christian friends, we send her"
Shrek rose on shrek; the Sabbath air
Her wild cries tore asunder;
listened, with hushed breath, to hear
God answering with His thunder
All still the very affairs cloth
Had smothered down her shrieking,
And, dumb, she turned from face to face,
For human pity seeking
saw her dragged along the aisle,
Her shackles harshly clanking;
heard the psrson, over all,
The Lord devoutly thanking!
My brain took fire; ais thisn cried,
"The end of prayer and preachingf
And give US Natures teaching!
8" Foul shame and scorn be on ye all
Who turn the good to evil,
And steal the Bible from the Lord,
To give 1t to the Devil!
"Than garbled text or parchment law
own statute higher,
And God Is true, though every book
And every mans liar"
Just then felt the deacop's hand
In wrath my cost.tsil seize on;
heard the priest cry, Infdel!"
The lawyer mutter, Treason"
started up-where now we're church,
Slave, master, priest, and peoplef
/ only heard the supper.bell,
Instead Of changing steeple.
woke; and 10! the fitting cause
OF sll my dreams vagaries-
Two bulky pamphlets, Wsbster's text
With StuarRs commentaries!
But, on the open windows sill,
Der which the white blooms driftsd,
The pages Of good old Book
The wind Of summer lifted.
And flower and vine, like angel wings
Around the Holy Mother,
Waved softly there, as If Gods truth
And Mercy kissed each other.
And, freely, from the cherry bOugh
Above the easement swinging,
With golden bosom to the sun,
The oriols Was singing.
As bird and flower made plain Of cid
The lessons Of the Teacher
so now heard the written Word
Interpreted by Mature
For to my ear methought the breeze
Bore freedoms blessed word on;
Thus SAITH THE LORD: BRRAK RvERY YoKE
UNDO THE HEAVY BURDEN
J. G.. "