Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-02-13
lFor the GsilipOlis Journal
THE AMERICAN STAR.
81 Mss RovEsA A. BLAKKEEsEIP.

Once on time when the sky was drear,
And usurht was seen the heart to cheer,
MANY q one with downcast eye
Looked forth for some place Of Liberty;
When the roeks shown bare aad wives dashed
high, bss
Prom the frigid zone to the tropic line,
A shining bright star was plainly seen,
Like love-lit eye through sorrow . screen.
It seemed while glittering in gladness there,
To welcome the pilgrim from afhr;
Like friendly light on some barren peak,
OF comfort and peace it seemed to speak;
The sufferers eye was quickly dried,
For soon Ger the blue waves they would glide
There was q rush from each foreign shore,
Where expressions hand was felt most sore;
With penants flying and hearts now light.
They sought place Of freedom and right;
They sang of fame and onward they few
To the land Of tyranny they bid adieu;
From brave true hearts cheer after cheer
Went up, as to the great land they still drew
near:
They entered the place of quiet and peace,
And day after day did their wealth increase;
New cities sprang up in each leAfy bower,
And commerce enlivened every hour;
There wisdom its gilded wing wide spread,
And archaeology reared its head;
And now through the beauteous dawning
light,
With thirteen points all glittering bright,
That star was seen with wondering gaze,
For it spoke Of its greatness in future days;
Then far o'er the ocean so deep and blue,
Our beautiful banner was brought to view;
Pure aud spotless was our white,
Bounded with stripes Of erubeseent light;
To the soft and delicate folds OF blue,
The stars of brightness in concert flew,
And the Goddess Of Liberty took her stand
With the flagstaff of Freedom in her hand,
And the brave of the nation gathered around
For meath that banner home they had found
They chose as the motto for one and all,
Omitted we stand, but divided we fall"
Larger and brighter grew our star,
Till quickly rushing from afar,
A dark and threatening cloud drew nigh,
And spread far over our azure sky,
But the brave of the sphere sprang to theil
feet,
The foe of our beloved land to meet:
Long was the struggle, and fierce to see,
But they put their trust in the God of the free
On still they came, on the covering foe,
And down in the dust they trampled them
low;
But the CORY war cloud cleared away,
Our banner still waved in triumph gay;
The Goddess Of Liberty held it high,
And our eagle came on with fiery eve;
He bore in his talons as onward he sped,
The laurels which deck each warriors head;
He Topped his wings as onward he flew.
And de6ed the British Lion in view;
With q scream of delight he stopped in air,
And perched himself on our banner fair,
And eircling around him, one by one,
Our thirty flour stars came quickly on.
The points of our star are now thirty-four,
But cloud has risen on our own beloved
shore;
The ones who were raised in luxury here,
Now seek to destroy our possessions dear;
But our eagle is ready and will soon make q
break
He'll tear into flinders the vile rattlesnake;
But our troops have rallied our country to save
They'll lay each vile traitor in cowardly
grave;
They'll blot out secession from our beloved
land,
And still in strength and beauty we'll stand
Let none be so treacherous at home or afar,
As TO cast foul blot on the American Star
MERcERvILLE, Gallia Co., o.