The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1866-03-31
INTO TIE WILDERnEss.

INTO THE WILDERNESS.
} Chime of bells and ne peal of cannon; Is
:. Ringing shoats of jHbila nee, rolled
Down from the breast of the eastern mountains
On to the western Gate of Gold Is
Miriam striking the sounding timbrsls, -
+ Shouting on Salyation's shore -
Such were the sounds Of triumph, sweeping
One year ago, the country DER. 81
For the strong, fierce notes of warriOr's ioy
Booming northward over the wires.
Shaking the earth with their mighty tones.
Like thunder pealing from Sinai's frs:
"Rejoicei Our legions. with fury shOd,
Have trodden the Vintage-press of Godi 81
The Southern snake, in his poison wrath,
Lies dead in our mighty Eagles PATH
Our ba nners are dyedin hostile gore
! Till the Blue and White shine forth no more.
But proudly STILL through each crimson fold,
Clean in glory the stars Of goldl'
And out from the deeps of the opening skies,
We heard, in spirit, an answering hymn,
Like thunder of many waters, rise
From the choiring ranks of the seraphim:
blessing. and honor, and praise alone
To HIM that stitch upon the Throne;
Who hath led the path of the brave and free e..
Through the fiery cloud and the crimson sea,
While the fierce oppressor, drunk with blood.
Sank as lead in the mighty hoodI
Blessing and honor, dominion and praise
To the ancient Kiag of the Endless Days -
And all unfettered in eoul and knee,
Shouting in triumph grand,
Forth from the depths of the CORY sea,
Where the naughty tyrants sunken be,
Came our Israel, marching free
Forth to the Promised Land.
Their broken manaeles strewed the way;
Stricken Egypt behind them lay,
Scared with battle and wrapt in gloon,
A smoking ruin-a mighty tomb. '9 81
Behind were darkness, and shame, and chains;
Before them Canaan's smiling plains,
home of freedom, of truth, of right,
Glowing with Wisdom's ample light;
A home of peace to the long oppressed
Strength to the weak-to the weary, rest.
But what is the storm cloud, settling slow
Over that smiling landscapes glow2
Who is pointing these pilgrims back de-
Over stony and barren track .s
Over desert no flower adorns. ~.
Choked with thistles, and barbed with thornsP
Souls of our glorious, deat,less dead, a.
Throned in light on the mount of Fame,
Bow in sorrow each star-erowned head;
Weep to witness the guilt and shame!
The voice once ringing, strong and clear,
In the van of an onward sweeping age,
Il Numbering now in drunken fear,
And hoarse with driveling idiot rage. ..
The hand that promised to guide the way
Out of darkness to Freedoms day,
Is turned to the sin and shame again
The White House leagued with the robbers den!
And the glorious fruits of these fearful years,
The rescued Union-the broken chain
Are slipping away from our palsied grasp;
Godl Have our brothers died in vain?
There is fendish Joy in the hostile ranks;
Again the accursed fetter clanks, "'
And the knOtted scourge-lash, stained with gore,
Descends on the bon dman's flesh once more.
And the men who stormed, IN freedoms name,
Battery Wagner's crestof fame,
And dI ing. poured defiant breath
Up Port Hudson's sleeps of death, a..
And bore their flag through the hostile fires
To plant it first on Richmond's spires,
Are handed back to their shameful fate
To the old oppressor's demon hate,
And freedoms dawning, clear and bright,
Is sinking in utter, endless night
Have we forgotten the recent wrongs2 -.r
No more may our hearts with passion swell
For Pillows myriad, martyred throngs, o.t
Or Quantrell, tossing the torch of Hell?n
The thousands that rotted in Libby's den2
Andersonville, with Che dying grOans
lie rhosff,y rotiODs F,,,;,L II
The cannibal Jewels of Yankee bones? ~,
Our brothers. gashe d with the savage knife,
Scalped on the red Arkansan plain2 -5
The bludgeon crashing at Summers life ?
The shot that shattered our Lincolns brain
Dipping with blood from the fendish strife,
Shall we clasp these murderous hands again
Wo to the ship. when tempests roars Us I'D
And breakers foam Jeeward shore, ss,
And mountainous pillows their prey O'erwhelm,
If a drunken pilot grasps the helm, sd !
And trembling dotard guides him there,
And the crew stand eursing in grim despair,
And pirate yreckers, beside the sea-
Are shouting DEVILS song of glee, Gid
And only the lighting points the way 10. t9
Through the midnight storm-clouds, swiftly
Watehmant Seer ofthe Futdrel say. [shifting!-
Where is the good ship Union driftingS
W o to the people, whose kingly Moses ~
Turns his face from The Promised Land rs
From Jordans bowers of b1ossomed roses
Where nought molests and nought opposes
Where sorrow ends and warfare closes liz
Turns away, and points his hand Xii
Into the Wilderness of Sin, IS . - 3
Into the desert's gloom again, ~ 4 ~
Where the sePnanfs kfka N sbo
And the bitter waters Of MarAh spring. 81 3ol f.
And the simoOm's poisonous. burning breath
Strews the desert with wreck and DEATH ~
And the sun pOurs fire from the brazen- sky, u 7
Which whirlwind- columns of sand are arching,