The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-02-14

BE 3. c. coFFIsBgRY.

On far keptucky's distant northern shore,
Where erst the red man sought the balmy shade,
Or sent bis shallop dancing lightly Ger
The waves that on the proud Ohio played,
The iercest August sun poured down his scorch-
ing rays.
Parching the forest wild and peaceful glade
Warming the clear blue stream into liquid blaze.
Twas noon. and the deep shade of many vine
And tree was cast along that lonely shore;
And many lovely flower did gently twine
Around the trunks of the tall oaks that bore
Them aloft, to drink the passing breath
Of the soft breeze that WOO them from the heath
Block BaEirsd stood amid that grateful shade,
Upon the rivers bank, and gazed afar,
With wishful eye, to that far land that laid
Beyond the rapid stream his eye with care
Was dim; wasted his form, and sunk his cheek;
And in his soul we're thoughts that even there,
He scarcely dared to trust his soul to speak
The big dark drops Of blood were oozing fresh
From his torn limbs, and lacerated feet
And many wound within his mangIed flesh,
For like a fiery courser, swift and fleet,
He had dashed through the forest from the lash
Of an inAuman .fsad, who calrd him Stare,
To seek afar, lord freedom or a grave
Fans the dark cheek Of that poor famished slave |;
At the first breath Of freedom gushing Ger
His wasted form (6t only for the grave,)
A new energy nerves his soul, his eye,
Lit by new fire, gIances Ger the wave,
Bursts from his lips wild, loud, joyous cry
A r,h;srar hoard ap,onsx tba s;,,,;v.. t-oo.
As their bright shivering leaflets gently turn
Their silver edges to that grateful breeze.
Is all that answers Baldred's cry when stern
He spreads his nostrils widely to inhale
The breath of freedom from the distant vale,
While thus he tells his melancholy tale:
Freedom was never mine-I was born a slave
Sorrow hung dark Ger my devoted head;
Oh, how I've prayed for rest within the grave,
While toiling for the white mans daily bread!
"But have torn from that long hated place:
Yes, / have torn from fellow slaves-from home;
Have torn those ties that bound me to my race,
Ger this wild forest happily to roam.'
perhaps to live-perhaps to find grave,
But from my SOUL Eve broken slavery's chain
To die scere better than to Be a slage!
Yes. may dic,-Pll never be slave again.
'How have suffered How my flesh been torn
Since from the tyrant's lash swiftly sped
How have those wasted limbs so nobly borne
Poor Baldred ON without one crumb of bread!
'Oh, how I've languish'd when I've wildly tho't
Of freedoms distant shore, which now see!
Welcome the sight, however dearly bought,
One struggle more and Badred shall be free.
Free from the proud mans beck, the CALLING
chain,
The tyrant's mandate-the oppressor's lash
The aching bursting heart-the madden'd brain
The thoughts that seattle the lightnings as they
fash.
"But bark, what cry that family heard
Der the far distance like the mountain flute
Twas the wild scream of some strange forest bird
Again What is it? Harkl my soul be mute
''The cry of the fierce bloodhound my track
1t is but freedoms peaceful shores in view
Haste, haste thee, Baldred, or they'll drag the
back
Plunge in the stream, let freedom nerve the,
drought
"He pluAges. and strikes out to save his life,
While i'm his teeth chances the keen bowie-knife,
He nobly breasts the current; as he speeds
Each effort nerves his soul for desperate deeds;
For now the loud bay Of the pursuing hound,
Doubling his rage at each successive bound.
Is bursting fiercely from the shore behind,
As if he rode the pinions of the wind.
The man hunter, led onward by the sound,
= Like fell tiger follows up the hound.
Ho, Baldredl speed thee Freedom the grav
Awaits thee now the dog has Ia ZEN the wave,
And his white teeth gnashing for his prey,
As in thy wake he swiftly glides away.
Ho, speedthee Baldrcd. when yon shores attain'd
Not only life but freedom will be gaind
On! on. for now the hound doth gain apace,
In the unequal and uaholy chase.
His efforts slacken, he is almost gone
While a c~s'd yfAud urges the bloodhound on
ION. on brave Ponto! sieze the graceless slavel
Is hoarsIy heard across the trembling
On! on brave Baidred yield thee not so ear
The goal of all thy hopes; but even there
The dog has seized and borne him meath the wave
Is there no hand the helpless wretch to saver
Mark the red streak of blood upon the stream.
The end of Baldred's bright and glorious dream
OF freedom. Oh how my heart doth bleed for him
Alas, that his bright dream should end thus dim
But see! Behold Again doth Baldred rise,
And freedom flashes from the victors eyes,
And Baldfed shakes aloft the conquering knife.
Huzza, brave Baldred now huzza for thesl
He answers back, "Huzzal Huzzal I'm freei"
Again he turns to freedoms hoped-for shore,
And nobly struggles for its brink once more.
He nears it. Yet one effort-yet one throe,
And freedoms sweet repose shall Baldred know.
But bark the shrill rife doth interpose
Her fiat 'gainst his dream of peace, and flows
The warm life-blood from his very heart
He gains the bank and with one effort more
Turns his glazed eyes upon the distant shore
Of bondage vile, and with dying start
Shrieks, "Adeul Adieu to bondage and to thee
Land Of the slave. Huzza Pm free I'm free 2
With that wild shrek poor Baldreds life was sped
His spirit freed the conquerer lay there dead.
The victor coming from the field of war,
Is hailed with shouts, and boomings from afar
of the brazen cannon, while the trumpet's SCUM
Welcomes the hero home, with laurels c-own'd.
The monument and richly sculptur'd stone,
n