The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-18
The SouthrOn's Farewell to Liberty.
BY A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER.

Adieu, sweet Liberty, adieu
At thy once-honored shrine we bow
Pained there through tears OF grief, to view
Thy cypress on thy laureled brow!
Bright Vision, like some dream or day
Angel OF Liberty, to thee
We come to sing our final lay!
AS from our Dlxies crimsoned shore
Thy wings are plumed far hence to dweli,J
Pause ere thy flight. and list once more
List. It's the Southron's last farewelIi
Driven from land where coldly CLEANS
Aurora's wierd and fitful light
Chilled by the North Stars Icy beams.
And Polar breath, OF deadly blight:
Constrained an exile's lot to try,
With all behind thee left as dross-
Thine eye turned towards our radiant sky,
Where nightly shines the southern Cross"
Poised in mid-aIr, like some bright ray
That fingers In the summers gloam-
We saw thee. and we bade thee stay
And make this sunny cline thy home.
But, no! thou saidst. "Before set
My foot upon thy Southern sod
price ask-cancel that debt,
And will break thy foe.man's rodW .4
A thrill shot through us and there passed
Before ns. from the years long gone.
Forms OF heroic mould, and last
They bade us pay the price-one hour
OfLiberty was worth 1t all
They bade US brave the tyrant's power.
To drink Of Freedoms cup. or fell.
"Name, name the sum-thy price. )" we cried.
"Be Its dread measure what IL may ....
Tolls, trials, death, thy answer 'bide-
We troth our all the sum to pay"
Then springing like an angel down,
Thy foot was planted on our sands,
And on thy brow was placed a crown
A chaplet wreathed by Southern hands.
Waving aloft thy magic wand,
Thy quivering lips our Dixie claimed;
And as thine eye surveyed the land
So bright, so fair, the sum was named:
"Bring forth your braves. a living host.
AS numerous as the flowers that bloom,
And let them OF my Banner boast,
Or glory In soldiers tomb.
"Stand not aghast though mid-night's pail
Be lighted by your burning domes:
Stand not aghast'though crumbling fnll
"a nations natal sacrifice
Demands the costliest offering-blood:
In blood the newborn Infant lies-
IT'S christened with crimson food.
"Ths do and here will abide,
To rid thee Of tn 'oppressor'sEhains-
But shrink, and subjugation'stlde =.
In wasting streams shall sweep thy plainsp
Twas aid,--those solemn words when, 10 :
With stirring notes the tocsin rang,
And from each hill and valley low
Tomeet the foe armed warriors sprangi
'Twns said: and DER virginia's clay
The battles sun arose-and SET! :.
rk,a~ tr,d or at,1 HnnIl IlNy fRdU
The North man and the Southron met.
And did we shrinkq Ask OF the slain!
Ye countless dead OF Dixie, rise - ~.
And from each battles CORY plain, ~
Attest the bloody sacrifice!
For thee Sydney Johnston fell;
For thee Is heard Jackson's knell; -
For thee Polk his llfe-blood shed
For thee Cleburne fought and fell.
Our nameless heroes. for the prize
81 cS,EGf4fe freedom stemmed inyasion's tide:
And dying. Turned 70 sthee their eyes%>
Still shouting "FreedomS as asSaey diedf
For thee. shut In by. bolts and bars.
Our glorious Chief, a captive reigns!
For thee, Prometheus-like, he wears
Without groan his cruel chains! -.
But, no, alas q dismal pail
Spread DER our land its shadow drear,
PreSaging In It's course the fall
Ofall we loved and held most dear.
Tis true, noble band still stood
And braved the battle on the plain
Resolved TO pay their troth OF blood
And for their homes thy boon to gain.
Not so with all q brood arose
Ofvampires, lured by hopes OF gains,
Who gloating on a nations woes,
Sucked out the ilfe-bood from its veins.
Pressed sorely thus on all sides, like
A wounded lioness at bay
She stands, as ifintent to strike
But faint, she falters,-gives away!
We shrank, and 10 cruel power
From Dixie plucked her starry crown:
We shrank, and In that evil hour .-s
Our "living wall' was broken down!
But, hark a rustling sound heart
List !'tis low, O stifled moan
A mouruful requiem greets my ear .
Alas! alas my Muse Is flown!
Twas DER: the form we did adore -
Had vanished from our eager view:
Farewell, farewell, forever more
Angel of Liberty, adieu!