The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-10-19
Freedom for America.

Poem read at the annual convention of the wo-
mems Christian Temperance Union, at ST Albans.
Sept q, 1877, by Mrs. W. w. Thomas.
No song has thrilled Columbias wood and wave.
Her arching dome hath caught no mnstrelsv
Like that new born nation grandly gave
Whcn rang the Declaration of the free
But lol as startled millions bent to hear,
Britannia's hand in proud, defiant wrath
onsheatneu the sword and noble blood and dear
Dyed the pure greenness of each hower-strewn
path.
Brave men went ont to die, and women yelled
With tender smiles the anguish then,
WIN spartan valOr wreathed the flag that trailed
And 5adc the warrior strike for peace again.
Free fee oh land, ofall the world the PRIDE
Trlumphantly thy wheels of progress rull
But hark as wanes the century, naught can hide
The wall ofwoc irom out the bondsnan's soul
Once more the war cry stirred the peaceful dell,
While shook the deep with sumtcrs laundering
gun,
Where met brother band the red tides fell
warm as Of old on plains of Lexington.
sweet homei oh country fart bought with rich
price;
Stainless the shore today the oceans meet.
W hile every nation brings thee sacrifice
And chants centennial music round thy feet
No proud dominion holds thy birthright now.
Slavery seals not the mighty God-gfven mind
Deathess the laurel waves above thy brow
That smiling welcome gives to all mankind.
And art thou free? We fan would Join the chime
Whose majesty our listening souls have loved,
Nor pause TO ask, while ring the bells of time,
Where waiteth liberty's storm-beaten dover
Free, when brave men are falling every hour,
PRONE with touch more cruel than the sword
Unto lost heights of genius, pride and power
On earth, ah, never more to be restored
Free, when n thraldom worse than death cnfods
The young, that gayly paths of promise trod,
Who laid for wine their glorious manhood down
And Dartered all their trust in Heaven and Gody
Free, when sweet childhood steals to weep, away
In shuddering silence meath the scorn and frown,
When woman's patient spirit, day by day.
Beneath the raging storm bends moaning dow
When all the freight at the cottage dies.
And all the heartlight at the hall grows dim;
When Babel dens of madness lure the eyes
And gifted souls are won to crime and sins
Oh, like pail the sunless shadows bow.
And human lips lift up their wailing cries
y stronger arm than Britain's binds lis how,
And Christ in his dear name bids us arise
Nor boast our glory, until temperance's strain
From fair New England to Pacihc's tide
Sweetly upbcars the righteous law of Maine
Wlth living splendor ON our ways to bidc
sistersl our ears have heard the thrilling strain
Born mid tie surging tides of human woe,
iii high resolve, enkindlng heart and brain
Hath marshalled eager hosts to seek the foe
We come, amid the glow of harvest time
Whlle earth her tale of rich fuliilment tells,
No vaunted sheaves of thankful toll TO bind
beneath the buglc peal or chime of bells.
To stir no hour with proud, triumphant song
While glowing banners kiss the trembling air,
but fronting stern cmbattlements of wrong
FROM counsel, courage win, and strength from
prayer.
With earnest hearts in union bent, we meet,
To watch the rising beam athwart the sky,
And, pledged TO conquest, catch the promise sweet
Inc reign Of temperance comcth by and by.
To pray for purity of olden days,
Nneh sterllng souls, whose strength no lip shall
Poured grandly forth their hymns offervent praise
MID storm and gloom, cnthroncd on Plymouth
Rock.
Shall we who tread tho peaceful paths of love,
And liss the lips unstaned, as fades the ,luv
Forget to ask tue unseen hand above
To heal the breaki ig hearts across the way.
Shall we in courtly ease beguile the hours
because noble manhood crowns own.
TOO soon demons breath may blight the flowers
The citadel by tempests lie o'erthrown.
Mothers earth hath no holy love like thine!
Oh, watch the infant feet, for manhood pray,
Sisters tall thy sweet affections bind
The restless feet, from virtue lest they stray
That at the marriage altar naught reserved,
save leal to God, glow purely unto death
True hearts the Rum King hath less power to
swerve.
Maliens, VINO paint the futtlre with bright rays,
Demand pure true life from lover friend,
sweet peace shall crown thee then as greenest
bays,
Thy good deeds win frution at the end
There's joy in heaven above one soul redeemed.
Then labor on, oh tried and gallant band,
Like Ruth who, faithful till the evening, cleaned
Then to the Lord of harvest gave her hand.
Behold. the ,lay breaks and the smile it wears
Drops over all the clouds golden edge
And while Judea's song the morn upbears
We hail anew the consecrated pledge!
Like to the Savour's birth hour it hath come
To light the darkness with celestial hame
To stand above the ransOiaed drunkard's home
And purify each haunt of gilt and shame
We own its powerl our lips the bond renew
And liit eNultant strains for truth and right,
With hopeful souls, like Israes chosen few
Pressed to the promised land just hid from sight,
Where earth's primeval light the rescued know,
For law complete and beautiful shall be,
And temperance's sceptre wave with changeess
glow
Der all Columbia's sons and daughters, free,