Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-04-24
THE POLISH BOY.

IhE fOLlDA oO1.
Whence come those shrieks so wild and Shrill,
That cut like blades Of steel the air;
Causing the creeping blood to chill
With the sharp cadence Of despair
Again they come, as If heart
Were cleft in two with one quick blow
And every string had voice apart
To utter It's peculiar woe.
whence come they? From yonder temple
where
An altar. raised for private prayer.
Now forms the warriors marble bed
Who Warsaw's gallant armies led.
The dim funereal tapers throw
A holy luster Ger his brow,
And burnish, with their rays Of light,
The mass of curls that gather bright
Above the naughty brow and eye
Of young boy that's kneeling by.
What hand is that, whose icy press
Clings to the dead with deaths own grasp
But meets no answering caress-
No thrilling fingers seek its clasp?
II is the hand of her whose cry
Rangly wildly lately upon the air,
When the dead warrior met her eye,
Outstretched upon tho altar there!
With pallid lip and stony brow
She murmurs forth her anguish now.
But, bark! The tramp of heavy feet
Is heard along the dismal street;
And nearer, and nearer yet they come.
With clanking arms and noiseless drum.
Now whispered curses, long and deep,
Around the holy temple creep!
The gate is burstl A rufian band
Burst in and savagely demand.
With brutal voice and oath profane,
The startled boy for exile's chain.
The mother sprang with gesture wild
And to her bosom clasped her child,
And. with pale check and flashing eye,
Shouted with fearful energy:
Back, rufians, back Nor dare to tread
Too near the body of my dead;
Nor touch the living boy stand
Between him and your lsYless band!
Take ne! BIND these arms, these hands,
With Russia's heaviest iron bands,
And drag me to Siberia's wild
To perish, if twill save my child
peace woman, peaeet" the leaoer crieu'
Tearing the pale boy from her side;
And in his rufian grasp he bore
His victim to the temple door.
"One moment" shrieIked the mother; "one
viii land or gold redeem my song
Take name, take heritage. take ALL
But leave him free from Russian thrahI
Take these" and her white arms and hands
She stripped Of rings and diamond bands;
And tore from braids of long black hair
The gems that cleaned like starlight there;
And her cross of blazing rubies, last
Down at the Russians feet she cast.
He stopped to seize the glittering store.
Up spripgipg from the marble floor.
The mother, With cry of joy.
Snatched to her leaping hsaFt the boy.
But no! The rufian's iron grasp
Again undid the mothers clasp.
Forward she fell, with one long cry
OF more than mortal agony.
But the brave child is reused at length;
And breaking from the Russians hold,
He stands giant in the strength
ofhis young spirit. so fierce and bold.
Proudly he towers, bis flashing eye,
So blue and yet so bright,
Seems kindled from the eternal sky
So brilliant is its light.
His curling lips and crimson cheeks
Foretell the thoughts before he speaks;
And with full voice Of proud command,
Heturns upon the wondering baad;
"Ie hold me mott Mono. nor can.
This hour has made the BoY NAN.
l knelt beside NJ slaughtered sire,
Nor felt one throb Of venErfpl ire.
wept upon his marble brow
Yes, wept; then was child, but now
Ny noble mother on her knee
Has done the work Of years for me-"
BE drew aside his 'brcidered vest,
And there like slumbering ssrpenta crest,
The jewelIed haft Of poiEnard bright,
Glittered a moment on the sight;
''Hal start yc back. fool. coward, knave!
r.iink YOU nv noble fathers glaive
would drink the life-blood Of slave?
Tho pearls that on the handle fame
Woula blush TO rubies in their shame;
The blade MNNla NAANNA - -
A.h.uocd of such ignoble rostl
Noi thus I rsnd the tyrsnt's chain,
Ard aing him bsok--o bOy's si'dais.'
IN. moment, and the poignard bright,
,3l;ftcred . moment on the sight;
Auothor--and his young hearts blood
I..ped to the floor a crimson hood.
Quick 70 his mothers side be sprang'
And on the air his clear voice rang;
In. nothorl Up! I'm free! I'm free!
The choice was death or slavery!
sUp. motherl Upl Look upon thy son!
His freedom is forever Woui
He nov auaits one farewell kiss.
To boar his father home in blissl
one last embrace; one blessing. one.
10 prors thou knoVest, approvest thy son!
What silent still! Cans't thou not feel
NJ warn blood Ger thy heart cenfeaE
spsak, uothori Speak, Lift uP your head
What silent yet Then thou art deadi
Great God 1 thank thssi Mother.
R,joioe via thee; and thus 70 die
One lonr. desP breath. asd his pale hsfa