The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-24
THE NATIONAL ERA.
Forth National Era.
THE WANDERED.
BY NJ HEMPsTEAD.

Twas a stern December sunset
Stern, though fair and gorgeous still
Blushing crimson WAS the river,
And the cloud upon the hill;
But the north side Of the forest
Oh twas bitter cold and chill.
Father" said little daughter
Ofthe minister, to-day,
When you told us about Daniel,
How he wsnld not cease TO pray,
Though law was made against it
II was righteous, did you sayl
And the Hebrew men who boldly
Dared to disobey the king
Was 1t right for them to venture
On so dangerous thing,
When they kneE not Of surety,
What deliverance God would bringln
Yea, my child, =" replied the father,
And his look was almost stern;
Wherefore does my daughter question
Surely thou art slow 20 learn
Ofthe prophets and apostles,
And the martyrs in their turn,
4" That a higher Law than human
Is the fearless Christians guide;
Sinful men make sinful statutes,
And the truth is turned aside,
But the laws Of God are perfect,
And must evermore abide"
Not again the child made answer,
But in silence bowed her head,
While upon the wall the freight
Mingled with the sunset red;
Then in haste a servant entering,
To his reverend master said:
Sir, there is a stranger woman
Waits to see you at the door;
So forlorn a human being
Never did ! see before
One that such a scanty garment
Or so wild an aspect wore"
Wonderingly the little maiden
Close against the window pane
Pressed her cheek to see the stranger:
"None have ever sought In vain,
At my hand, replied the master,
As the servant turned again.
Tohis door the good man FASTENED,
But the half had not been told;
Twas no strolling slms-house vagrant,
Twas no bagg'r taught and bold
Buta WOMAN, faint with travel
Shuddering with alright and cold
q have need Of food and clothing,
Blu, ask them not 4" she cried
otis fugitive entreats you,
Only let me here abide;
Give me but one nights protection,
And a corner where to hide
"Save me! for the love Of Heaven,
Save me!n and she turned her eye
To the hilltop, where it rounded
OF against the clOudless sky
Moving figures Ia the distance
Did her searching glance descry.
Shrieked she then with frenzied gesture,
"See them they are on my track
Will you give me to the bloodboundsl
VIII you let them drag me back,
To he scofTed at, to be tramplSd,
To be tortured on the rack ~
God protect you" said the pastor,
For cannot grant You aid
Evil times are fallen upon us,
When such brutal laws are made;
But il is the will Of Heaven
That our rulers be obeyed."
., that gaze Of speechless anguish!
o, that heart wrung womans wall
As the hunted slave few onward,
Made his very heart to quail
Made his very hair to stiIen,
And his face turn ashy pale
But the door was shut and bOltsd,
And the fugitive was gone,
Ere the strangers from the hill top
Had descended to the lawn:
Vain, good constable and planter,
Vain the GRAND ye are on.
When the moon arose that evening,
On the evil and the good,
Two poor tenants Of q howell,
That beside the forest stood
Found the hunted woman lying
Where they went to gather wood
Bore her to their wretched dwelling,
Placed her on its only bed,
Wet her parching lips with water,
Strove to make her taste of bread,
Chafed her limbs, and watched beside her
In the morning, she was dead
And the parish gave coffin,
And a decent grave was made,
And meager group assembled,
And the parish pastor prayed
Standing with his head uncovered
Where the silent dust was laid.
Hitherto In speech 30 gifted,
Wherefore did his language fail 2
Wherefore did his accents tremblei
What could make his cheek 80 pallet
No one living had accused him,
And the dead can tell no tale!
o bespeak the pastor gently
For his punishment Is sore
Little lower than the angels
Had he deemed himself before;
Now, even Consciousness Of manhood
Lives within his soul no more
In HE ear wall Is ringing,
And he hears il everywhere
Hears It in his quiet parlor,
Hears 1t on the pulpit stair
o, entreat the pastor kindly,
For he has enough TO bear
But for that poor novels inmates
When they thither turned sgain,
Well they knew II was an angel
That upon their bed had lain;
For II lighter seemed, and softer
To their WEAKNESS and pain
And their frugal bread seemed swseter
To their hunger than before
Warmer was the sullen hearthstone,
Smoother was the broken floor
And they loved each other better,
Loved their God, and neighbor, more.