The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent. (Port Gibson, Claiborne Co., Miss.) 1848-18??, 1850-06-28
P0 E T R Y
The Cloud, The Cross, The Crown.
BY D. FRANCIS BACON.

81 sow it standing erect and resplendent over
the dark cloud, in more than imagined beauty
and glory,-its tour large stars arranged in
striking order and symmetry, in the form which
all Chrlstendom recognizes as the sign and
memorial of Gods infinite love and mans eter-
nal hope, and the rapture | then felt was
cheaply purchased by all the sufferngs and
perils of the voyage then past, or yet before
me. = x
As our brigan!ine bounded swiftly over the
long swell Of the Atlantic, the bowsprt was
bowling to the cloud and cross, and the tall
mast pointing to the starry crown, shining
high above us,-Corona BoreatiS, which was
still in view, as well as the Southern Crown
known to astronomers as the Corona AuStra-
tiS"--a bright constellation, but less conspicu-
Gus than The other, which is familiar to US in
our own skies, under the name Of the "North-
ern Crown" A poetcal idea came Yiyidly to
my mind, and led me to attempt an expression
of my feelings in such verse as was within the
powers of one unused to this sort Of compo-
sition.
Low hanging Ger my ocean path
To that dark land and martyrs tomb,
Far lowers CLOUD, dim boding wrath,
In nightly gathering, deepening gloom,
But Ger it, pure from airy dross,
Heay'n's silvery light comes clearly down;
Above the cloud see the CROSS,
! Above the cross the starry CROWN.
Hail! Glory of the Southern skies,
| Erst beamed in light far less divine
On the first Christian Cesar's eyes,
His triumph's pledge and 'conquests sign;"
BRIEF flash.-perhaps fabling gloss
To lend Earth's empire wreath renown;
But here the everlasting cross
Points ever to the Heavenly crown.
With cross on staff and sword on breast,
OF old, crusading pilgrim-bands
| Won for the heroes OF the West
The gorgeous crowns of orient lands.*
Their "glories gone,"-now dust and moss
Shroud their tombed thrones in ruin brown,
While here above the bright TRUE CROSS,
] Christ's faith-armed warriors see their crown.
The cross, "a craven image stands,
The snare ana shame OF Christendom,
On dome, tower, spire, through thousand lands,
From Peru to Jerusalem.
It's gold-shrned form oft gems emboss,
Worshipped alike by king and clown
Idolators!-behold the cross, doth crown
| IledN ll-SuEIued, StdT-SSeulucus WHICH dOu
Unknown for ages, now it wins
The eyes Of millions to adore:
"Midnght is past; the cross begins
To bend" DER Africa's dark shore,
Yields to white robe the vile kaross,f
And groyeling kraalt TO spiry town;
The southern world beneath the cross,
Awakes to hail its king and crown.
NV way is dark still--holy light
Shine DER the cloud to guide and cheer
Thus, heavenly watcher through the night
Beam on my "wanderings" lone and drear,
In every trial, danger, loss,
Thy ray, which ocean cannot drown,
Shall tell me-he who bears "no cross"
OF tolls aad tears shall win s'no CROWN
Sign of my faithl Seal of my hope!
Pledge of Gods love to wandering man!
Beaconed by thee, no more grope
In gloom the way of truth to scan;
And ever when life's pillows toss, [frown
Tho whirwinds sweeps and storm-cloud
Faith DER the CLOUD shall see the CROSS
Hope DER the cross shall see the GROWN.
*Godfrey, Baldwin, Guy de Lusignan ano
Conrade, kings of Jerusalem-Guy, &c, king
of Cyprus,-Bohemmed prince of Antioch
William, prince archbishop Of Tyre,-BaldWin
|. g. H. Emperors Of Constantinople, &c.
tKaross, the name of the filthy scanty dres
of the wild natives of South Afaica.
tKraal. South African village, a circle o