The Wilmington daily Republican., 1892-03-30
PERsECUTED.

The following poem is from the we'll
known pen OF Rev. J. 4. Wills, and is
taken from the March number of The
Methodist, published at Smyrna. Del. by
Rev. W. W. W. Wilson, brother of Rev. j.
a. Is. Wilson. late Presiding Elder OF the
Dover District, Wilmington Conference :
saw an eagle on his cliff
Beneath the dun CLOUDS Jagged rift,
While through the breach his dauntless
Gazed calmly up the azure sky.
Unmoved he sat mid ightnings dread.
Aud thunders rolling round his head.
There sprcad his plumes like tiny ais
To catch the fury OF the gales,
Aud beat tho whirlwind's power to scorn,
with pinlons in the mountain born.
Ten thousand times those wings had tried
The currents of the ether tide;
Ton thousand times that vision clomb
The blazing summers sun-lit dome.
Yet neither wreck nor dinIness came
From maddening blast nor pierre ing
Tho glowing days ntcnser light
But added freshness to his sight.
And midst the wild winds raging strife
Heart took new and stronger life.
| watched that bird from far below,
Where pride holds league with mirth and
woe,
Where rampant foliys lustful brood
Devise the downfall of the good,
The weak and guileless by the way.
1 saw the ruthless hand OF spite
Raised grimly 'gainst that proud birds
might,
Aud cruel hatred snaked lance
With 81 ttering sheen did upward glance
Who set the eagles home on high
eaw the sons of envy bring
| Their fragile arrows TO the string,
| And strive with reeking hanu 10 race
! The venomed missiles to their place.
Yet feebler than the strgws that fly
Before the blast when winters nigh,
Each shaft fell short. each aim was vain.
The proud birds eye still swept the plain,
Aud where the harmless tumult rose
Loo ked calmly down upon his foes.
Tbrioe regal thou, OF bird of storm.
or bravest heart and Doldest form.
The stars do crown thee and thy throne
lhe peaks where latest sunset sionc.
Thine is the rainbow-bclted morn.
The glittering Orient's oldcn horn;
And proud and peaceful he thy sleep,
Where mottled midnight, wraps the steep.
Twas God the eagles eyrie gave.
'1'is God who watches DER the brave;
GiftsgeHius with its wings OF Zig ht,
Embattles prowess with his might
And throws around the pure and free
The guerdon OF His majesty.
Sets walls of rock and brass between
The servile and the noble heart.
And shields he eagle from the dart.
God built the mountains grand and high
For men that soar and birds thai fly,
Aud left the low, pestiterous lands
For natures vile aud groveiiing bands.
lis more than sad when reptiles rise
To spoil the tenants OF the skies;
When 5ensolces bats from mold and slime
To bolicst SUBMITS dare TO climb
Yet sinking IA the trial vain.
Deride they heights the cannot gain.
so us of old the 2iowwurms light
Dctied the duy-god In his might:
SO us when drunk with wrathful glee
The fatuous Persian lushcd the Sba
When Ger the Wild onl maldcuiug tide
He sitw his broken Gai eous ride.
And watched with shame the needless
main --l. 1..
Roll backward TO Its place again.
How jCcrs the crowd when greatness falls,
~peeds the coarse herd TO poN er's calls.
With what low greed tho vile Will cling
pom the plumes of fortunes wing
l.ceuse arnbha5 to so tree ..-.. .=..
And slay the man of Galilec.
o, Peace unfurl thyhtnners white
| Through these dull storn-clouds of our
sight.
| Teach Cruelty thy notes of love,
Aud bind the yulture with the dove.
| o, Truth. assert thy proud design.
Make bCstiul man once more divine;
DER the wide vale replete with dcnth
Wake life ana beauty hy thy breath,
And 10 the uprIsen race Tehcarse
The triumphs ot universe.
Far upward yet the eagle scars
Where lightning flames and tempest roars,
Aud upward 'tgt the cravens gaze
While lcssCi n through the golden haze
That cUnuttC,a.g wing and q erClIg eye
Seek broader realms and purcr sky.