The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-07-12
MORNING sfAR AND CATHOLIC MESsENGER.
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NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY, JULY IL, 1868.
THE NEW PATH.
by srEnASzA LADY WILDE.

We stand in the light of dawning day.
With its glory creation flushing;
And the life currents up from the pris ming clay
Through the worlds great heart are r',shinS
A voice unto voice is calling: .....
The night is over, the day is ut hand,
Yet faces are pale with mystic fear
OF the strife and til" trouble looming;
Tho the Lord deiaycth his coming
For the rent flags hang from each broken mast;
And down in the ocean surges.
The shattered wreck of n laundering past.
Sinks mid the night winds dirScs
But the world goes laundering on to the light.
Unheeding our vain prcsages;
Thro a.Gn the s'1 e, Dust Of sn
Shall we then rest in vain despair,
Nor carry the flag of our Island fair
In the onward march OF nations!
Shall our hands be folded in slumber when
The bonds and the chains are shatteredi
Stony and still like enchanted men,
In a cave of darkness fetteredi
The cave may be dead: but wei! Hash bright CLEANS
OF the mornings radiance on it,
And tread the new path, tho the noontide beams
For souls are around with gifts divine.
Unknown and neglected dying
Like the precious ore in a hidden mine,
UnwOrked and useless lying.
We summon them forth to the banded war,
The sword of the Spirit using,
To come with their forces from near and far,
Let each bear torch with the foremost bands,
Through the futures dark outgoing
Or stand by the helm, mid the shoals and sands
or the river of life fast flowing.
Or as guides on the hills, with a buSle note
Let warn the mountain ranger
OF the chasms that cross and the msts that float
Ger his upward path Of danger.
For the chasms are deep and the river is strong,
And the tempest is idely waking
We have need of brave hands to guide us, along
The path which the Age is taking
With gold and pearls let us build the State;
Faith courage, and tender pity
Are the gems that shine the golden gate
OF the Angels Heavenly City.
People! so richly endowed with all
The splendors of spirit power,
The poets gift and the mnstrel-soul
And the orators glorious dover;
Are hearts not among us, or lips to VOW.
With patriot fervor breathing;
To crown with their lustpe no alien brow
While the thorn our is ~reathng!
Even Ioveer gifts on our lowly poor,
Kind Nature lavishly showers,
AS the golden rain falls on the cottage door,
OF tho glowing laburnum flowers: r.,
Tho the fairest harvests that grew our sod
Were left for the strangers reaping.
The gentle grace that to cOmmOnest words
Gives a rare and tender beauty
with the zeal that would face a thousand swords
For their country, home, and duty:
Still breathing the prayer for their Mother land.
Her wrongs and her sorrows taught them;
Tho the scaffold's doom, or the felon brand
Were the only gifts she brought them
But we-let us bring her, Eastern kings,
At the foot of Christ low kneelngL,
The gold that symbols our costliest things,
And myrrh for the spirit ) healing.
Oh Brothers! be with us, our aim is high,
The highest of man = vocation:
With these priceless jewels, that round us lie,
To build up noble Nation