The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11
By M. F. Henry -Ruffin,
 Mobile. Ala.
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 Defiant of Times ancient honored laws, The eager present gives precious pause; And bids the hastening centuries, twice told, Roll back and minge with remembrance old; When that New France of icy boreal breath, , Through stress of storm and snatched from ocean oeat Sent Bienville, Sieur of Romance, To find, meath gentle skies, another France. Roll back where noble names are glorytwlned; And pause where glamoured memory will ma Fair Gallic grace and Hispan fire beside The restful Alabama's tawny tide. Majestic Lousl Lordliest of kingsl Around whose throne imperishable cilngs The glow of victory and radiance
 Of arts awakening in storied France Lord of triple empire, longed to fly His feur-de-lis meath furtherest stranger sky; And fling his oriflamme, in golden blaze Beyond Atlantic's boundless, billowy ways; From savage wilds an empire to wrest And claim Bienville, "Conde of the Vest" / o sieur of France! if happily thou couldst stand Today, beside in this favored land
 To see the tender flower thou hast sown In fullest fruit, thy strongest hope outgrown: Or had'st thy vision floated down the stream Of years to be, in prophetic dream,
 As standing in that misty, distant day, TO the on-rushing centuries might say: o! dream of mine, glide on-upon the shore Of my Bay Beautiful, I watch more, The lilies of my France; but blooms apace Britan's bright Banner, for sturdy space; Then fades and vanishes. The Spaniards red, Rebellious standard then is far outspread; And then-O dream! glide swifter, for 1 A Starry Sign, the Symbol of the Free I read the deathless, immemorial Page, The wondrous gleam, that Monticelo's Sage dark pted 1ioh Of liberty, of Freedom sunburnt bright. O. dream of mine, glide on-beneath the light Of that great Standard, grows the richest might The land I love. hear the cheering song. Sweeten the labor of dusky throng,
 In fields of snowy wealth, 1 catch the glow Of happy homes; and history may not show A fairer prospect than to In beauty, virtue, wit and chivalry.
 My cavaliers of France, hidalgoes proud Of Spain have melted from me, cloud Disclosing natures best, completest plan Of manly grace-the Southern gentleman. O! dream of mine, glide on-but softly now l the shadows gather the brow
 Of my beloved land. I hear the dread Echo of war, I walk amid the dead. And oh! my beautiful, blue, placid sky Is black and stern, with thundrous dangers nigh Then clearer skies. In stricken, saddened land That seems stranger to my South, stand In every heart banner cypress bound Is buried with dead hope that 1t crowned; While claps, with risen hope, each loyal hand The Banner of an undivided land. O! dream of mine, glide on-where I have bowed My knee, amid wondering dusky crowd, While forests thrilled with Apostolic zeal As voice of Pale Face stranger rose to reveal The precious Message of the Christ divine And bring to eyes of faith His sacred Sign: The branches overhead, festooned with moss, Are fashioned into stately spre and cross Grand temples rise and deeptoned organs swell Where the hymns-o savage voice fell: And vested priests gather arts tribute rare Beneath the domes magnificent, here, where, In church of woven boughs, the fervent word Of priests clad in the wild beasts skin I've heard O! dream of mine glide on-fair cities spread Where once the lonely trapper's pathway led. Where the great Father of the Waters bore The hunters frail canoe, I hear the roar Of mighty hissing giants of the stream, Slaves of the al[compelling spirit Stream. l the conquering genius of
 Capture the lightning and amazed scan How wind and water, light and sound and air Their homage to the human power bear, Where my Louisiana led,
 Ger mountain, river, hill and vale outspread A hundred cities rise, hundred names Dispute my lordly Louss vast claims. o! dream of mine glide ono vision rare!