The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-06-14
Thc GyastaliaM fuuut,
INAUGURATION or THE CHICAGO
FAIR.

FAIR
lrhe following admirable poem, by T. BuChau-
an Read, was read by him at the inauguration OF
the great Northwestern Freedmen's Fair, now In
progress at Chicago. his poem Of high merit
and admirably adapted to the occasion Cor which
it was written j
/.
What great events have chased the seasons by,
Like galc-blewn waves beneath the laundering
sky,
Zoe,
Shattcring rebellion ut q single blow
How like an eagle swoopng from HIS craE,
Great Sherman pounccd aud tore the rebel hagi
On widespread wings then northward swept tue
coast,
While aed before him all the traitnrous host,
Till Graut-lke Michael on the crystal wall
Crowded the lend OF treason to bis tall
Aud when unto the lowest dCcpS he tell,
There chained the demon in his well-earned cell.
Grows there the hemp sathciest for the time,
To avenge nation tor their murderers crime Z
| Think Of our glorious host of martyrs slain
Not in fair battle on the fiery plain
But left to ghastly huuger's tightening clinchi
| And slowly murdered daily, inch by inch.
/ In fancy | behold the villainous wretch,
| Aud vet the muse recoils that gives the sketch
| | see before the felons stranng eyes,
| These haggard martyrs soiemnly arise;
/ Ihe mNrtauS looming llom tNc plains OF uchtlg
| File their pale line before this new Macbeth;
Like those sad ghosts by Richards bed,
Their mourniul voices freeze his blood with dread
Orphans and widows pass before his sight,
! Until his soul is shivoring with ntirighti
His cry, " I'll see no more," Is made in VAIN,
lie still must see aud shivcr in his chaini
But leave the demon ~ HIMSELF no worse
A fate could reach him, and no bittcrcr curse.
ii.
Grape for nation Grape
let Freedom all her shrinos and temples drapc
The greatest, noblest, wisest, and the best,
Has dropped from his high toll to sudden rest.
He whose large heart from kindness never swerveI
But oft rccoilcd from vengeance where deserved
Heaven saved him from the final work to do
Of melting justice to the trsitorous crew.
Behold the assassin flying through the night,
Each bush and tree assails him with aflrlgEt
Each breath OF air is kissing in his ear
The cry of Murder \" and pursuers near.
His ewes of blood make all the field ablaze
With fire, to give him to the searcher's gaze
He dies a thousand deaths until he falls,
p Mid flaming hay and cracking beams and stalls
7 And with fierce imprecations on his lips,
His spirit passes to its dark eclipse,
Perchauce, pursued 10y vengcful shapes OF ire,
1t still flies ON through endless fields Of fire.
Ill.
= Here let the curtain fall
On scenes of woe that startle and appal.
Ring out wild bells, and swing it round the worl
Our Union Flag is now for aye uniurlcd,
1 TraitCr nor IYrant can resist the tlue -.
OF the great movement sweeping far and wide
The Freedman's axe is in the forest now
The Freedman's hand is on the Southern ploy
3 One sweep of the great peoples arm abroad.
'r The savage flies, aud harvest crowns the sod
/ While by that hand the rattliug car conveyed
Darts, like shuttle, through the loom of trad
Religions handmade aid-Cunmerce-walk abros
And wins more realms than Wars ensanguincd g
= In her fair hand the olive branch of Peace
Waves DER the world and bids its discord cea
Her garments breathe perfume of lndia's spic
And soft fu7s shield her mid the arctic ice;
Her rcindcers fly athwart the frozen land;
Her patient camelS print the desert sand
On Nile and Myers breast her barges glide ;
Her swift canoes the Indian trappers guide
Her barks DER Hharaoh's drowned chariot sai
Un Michigan her steam aciss Ne psse-. :.
Oer Europc's world her pinions rise and fall
Her banners wave on Chinas ancient wall,
Ger ruined Thebes perchance she shcds tei
But smiles to see a greater rising mere
IIeavcs the sad sigh beside decaying Rome,
But starts second in her w-fomd hoiue.
Onward forever Ger our Western land
Rise the fair marts 10 her cnchalted wand.
There domes and spires, by ocean, lake
stream,
.E, Spring like the marvellous fabrics Of dreau
Where ruamed ut late the forests dusky KIN
On skyward walls the builders trowels ring
Where savage children watched the eagles n
The Saxon urchin flies his waving kite.
Where the Wild war dance famed the midn
= fires,
In sacred temples chant the Christian choirs
Ana where canoes lay warping on the sand
III A thousand steamers chafe the busy land.
".
= Once more within this marvellous temple, lac
- let us exult DER TrcasOn's bloody bier;
>, ESult like Miriam the Red Sea coast,
ann Where waves uniting drown old Pharaoh's
The pillows Of our Union thus have met,
= Aud overwhelmed and drowned the traitorous
i And Liberty, like singing Miriam, stands
N n l.,ls IN hap tod hnndq
ain Shouting her pirans grandly to the Lord,
For Freedom won, ami Union thus restored
".
But why has sprung this wondrous structure
As if Aladdiu's lamp waving here?
Come walk the aises of yonder bedded hal
Aud let the tear of love and pity fall.
There stand beside the patriots couch of p'
Whose fierce dclirium takes the field again
> Law ON his burning brow the tender palm
Soothe with kind words, and bid his soul bc
And there behold the emaciated iprIn
OF one who brayed the battle and the slorr
pyIs IIercules-he fought them long and well
'e'P' Till, overpowered, ho found a Southern eel
Behold him now, n skeleton-n0 more-
A child might bear him up and down the
o bathe his lips with the reviving cup,
And breathe your blessing while YOU bid him
80 Behold the frequent crutch, the empty slec,
LED And yon pale victim, waiting Deaths repri
:, For these this noble temple swells to-day,
tne For these our grateful thousands crowd the
N For these brave men, WIN ply W Nich -
Undo the purse-strng, thankful for the cha
,de While Woman, to her glorious nature true
'"S Does all that angels would be asked to do
Wave all your banners, every stripe ana S
To welcome home the veterans of the war.
DSS Give 10 these men-the marvel OF the cart
Place in the heart AS well as in the hearth
The soldier and the sailor-let them see
Our gratitude to those who kept us Tree
nnc | Aud show the ancient adaFe Is ainiss
'"N' Republics are ungrateiul;" not so this
vi.
Great heirs Of Freedom, keep your steady c
upc Sdll follow Truth with Undivided force
' 20 Let your free souls speak love to all the e
inds, Love God, and next, the land that gave you
Though War should slumber aud your swui
M, sheathed,
'N True to tue trust your glorious slret beque
a. With your example, like flag uninried-
i've nEe Columbia vet will liberlte the world.
wing Then on forever be your upward aims,
y as Aud Time must pay what Perseverance cl
nu 80 BE every word with earnest purpose giyel
W nav Each patriot thought aud act, and leave the
! and
!. '. ge9end Of the g'
ted to WASHINGTON'S VISION.
m he