The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-02
An Unknown Poem by whittier.
From me Boston journal

FROM me boston journal,
The partial destruction by fire of the old
home of John G. Whittier AT Haverhill doubles
the interest in the poem printed to-day by
the Journal since the verses We're undoubtedly
written in the house which was da ma ged.
The poem was found in n volume Of the Esser
GGs'Hc for the year ls2s, and the poet, in the
letter Which acGomp9nied IN. poem; -, a.,
answer of the noble ~. Clair to an impet uous
young oflocr who. at Ticonderoca. urged
him not TO decline an engagement with the
enemy II must be 20. my boy'ti~ not in
mortrls TO command success, but well do
more; We'll de;;erv" it know could save
were TO do 80, | should forfeit that which
the world, could not restore, and WHICH II
caurot take away the appreciation Of my
this answer above the ordinary standard Of
heioi,m. The fierce and desperate adyen-
turcr Who puuCc- in the mad waves of COM
bat may be- ,tylod a brave man. but hi- is a
vaior nearly allied to brutal ferocity.. and, in
the eloquent language OF the gifted Felicia
lleman>,
"'If tnu, to dare were valour's nobcst aim.
Lightly MIGHT fame he won bu, 'hcrc are things
Which ASK spirit more exalted Pitch,
IN courage tempered with a hocr me-
The poem is a. follows:
ST CLAIR.
They comet they COME the battle horn
Is pouring on the breath OF morn.
Its gathering notes, and yondcr glen
Is shaking with the tread OF men
or armed tnen ihclr counir, $ CGrse'
Pcforc thy silent phalanA thus,
VITA doubtful hand anu darSencd brow
Arouse thy bano FOR none are here
VINO own the S'avi,h thrall Of fear
Not one OF these proud forms shall qual
Before the targe and glcaminC mail.
W hopeless. heartlcSS slaves are they
Who hate the power they must obey
nu' proudly they have Sllied forth
Defenders ~ their native earth;
And sooner shall yor hills OF snow
Their everlasting submits bow
Than they shall tamciy see thc zoe
Tread where thdr fathers sleep below
NaTflprD
N" l-to'ing host be nrmly met,
vi, taousni ny falthtu'l hand Is small
lcoo NJ they shall not valnlF fall.
For ccdpm'S soil is Sancincd
Wnc 'cr devoted sons have ded.
That Nngcrs where the Mighty zen,
! I, RANTS horde shall never tread
In safety DER the glorious dead
tn, va r:.r raised his troubled brow
Ana t upon the coming zoe
His,a gaze and drDn' his land
lmpl'lcnt. on hi, Shcathcd brand
Tncn ocr MS own devoted few
/, qqrk. a seNrchln; g ssr, ne ,I threw;
Bu' ewes were liflrd. aS IN PRAYER
The father with hl, lock, Of gray,
tn" youth from pa, me cH,rd HS So
ad doun,IeSS %cT 'h S,.,t Sp pit q, COM e.6,,
The rapture Of the last embrace.
tn" tear that for their parlnF gen.
These were not things 10 be torsog
Ths tolls ,., ttS S'r,,ci " 92n'N '' groom
nut deeper nNcd his thoughts Of home,
Vet calm and hcnuiiful thcS stood,
\ Ioh'c and q proud array,
ThuHrh an unused to scenes OF blood.
No chtcJ was Whitening with diSnay.
ST clair b"hCd thrfu. and his PRIDE
Gave way - pity = softer tide,
70 Hnui q warriors dread Of shame
Ills spirit rose And shall, he So'd.,
This urm and faithful band he led
AGAINST an overwhelming host
Where an must soon or late bc LOST
Wat though. with Sauc lter crimson tide
H'g swell the stream 900 NOuGrt glcn
before the halphtN HrtOn'S stride,
Triumphant DER nv fallen mem
What though the names OF those who fell
The bard OF coming years Snall tell.
And patriots view with streaming eyes
The place OF fearful NaCrlhcc
II may not be; VIII not lead
To hopeless conflict on.
\ voice | cannot chose but heed
The Stll small vol - may not S"Orn-
fothlS the dark and rash design.
Re ginry's wreath To others given,
\ holicr, purvr need be mine
The favor ~ approving Heaven
iI,NERHlIA. I'd Mo, 1875. ADRIAN,