Even the organ's solemn psalm, Only cowards stop and stay, When they hear the deep drums rolling When they hear their country calling : 4. Hark', the beating of the drum'! Of those basest foes Children, who would bring dishonor', Their own mother'! From one sea to the other Sound', sound' the strange alarm! 5. Hark', the beating of the drum'! We come', we come', we come! Where the fierce exulting fife Shall sweep the breath of life From the lips of those who perish in the strife'! Where the haughty bugles blow Defiance to the foe'! Where', through all the roar and riot', Still the drum beats', firm and free As the heart of Liberty'! Over field, over flood, Through seas of fire and blood, Over hill, over hollow, We will follow, follow, follow Where it calls Ay', through storms of cannon-balls'! LESSON XLVII. LET OUR LAND BE A LAND OF LIBERTY! JOSEPH WARREN. 1. THE Voice of your fathers' blood cries to you from the ground, "My sons', scorn to be slaves'! In vain we met the frowns of tyrants'; in vain we crossed the boisterous ocean', found a new world', and prepared it for a happy residence for liberty'; in vain we toiled'; in vain we fought'; we bled in vain', if you', our offspring', want valor to repel the assaults of her invaders'!" 2. Stain not the glory of your worthy ancestors'; but like them resolve never to part with your birth-right'. Be wise in your deliberations', and determined in your exertions for the preservation of your liberty'. Follow not the dictates of passion', but enlist yourselves under the sacred banner of reason'; use every method in your power to secure your rights'; at least prevent the curses of posterity from being heaped upon your memories'. 3. If you', with united zeal and fortitude', oppose the torrent of oppression'; if you feed the true fire of patriotism. burning in your breasts'; if you', from your souls', despise the most gaudy dress which slavery can wear; if you really prefer the lonely cottage', whilst blest with liberty', to gilded palaces', surrounded with the ensigns of slavery', you may have the fullest assurance that tyranny', with her whole accursed train', will hide her hideous head in confusion', shame', and despair'. 4. If you perform your part', you must have the strongest confidence that the same Almighty Being who protected your pious and venerable forefathers', who enabled them to turn a barren wilderness into a fruitful field', who so often made bare his arm for their salvation', will still be mindful of their offspring'. 5. May this Almighty Being graciously preside in all our councils. May He direct us to such measures as He himself shall approve', and be pleased to bless'. May we ever be favored of God. May our land be a land of liberty, the seat of virtue, the asylum of the oppressed, "a name and a praise in the whole earth," until the last shock of time shall bury the empires of the world in undistinguished ruin! LESSON XLVIII. A BATTLE SONG FOR FREEDOM, GAIL HAMILTON. 1. MEN of action'!-men of might'! 2. Have you marked and trenched the ground', Ere the victor can be crowned'? 3. Have you guarded well the coast'? 4. Have you counted up the cost'? 5. Gained' the infamy of fame'! 6. Lost'-desert of manly youth'! 7. Freemen', up! The foe is nearing'! 8. Freemen', on'! The drums are beating'! 9. From your hearths, and homes, and altars, 10. Hush'! The hour of fate is nigh'! LESSON XLIX. LAS CASAS DISSUADING FROM BATTLE. KOTZEBUE. 1. Is then the dreadful measure of your cruelty not yet complete'? Battle'! against whom? Against a king', in whose mild bosom your atrocious injuries', even yet', have not excited hate'; but who', insulted or victorious', still sues for peace'. Against a people', who never wronged the living being their Creator formed'; a people who', children. of innocence'! received you as cherished guests', with eager hospitality and confiding kindness'. Generously and freely did they share with you their comforts, their treasures, and their homes; you repaid them by fraud, oppression, and dishonor. 2. These eyes have witnessed all I speak': as gods you were received'; as fiends you have acted'. Pizarro', hear me! Hear me', chieftains'! And thou', All-powerful' ! whose thunder can shiver into sand the adamantine rock', whose lightnings can pierce to the core of the riven and quaking earth', oh, let thy power give effect to thy servant's words', as thy Spirit gives courage to his will! Do not', I implore' you, chieftains', countrymen', do not', I implore' you, renew the foul barbarities your insatiate avarice has inflicted on this wretched', unoffending race'! 3. But hush', my sighs'! fall not', ye drops of useless sorrow'! heart-breaking anguish', choke not my utterance'! All I entreat is', send me once more to those you call your enemies'. Oh, let me be the messenger of penitence from you! I shall return with blessings and peace from them. Elvira, you weep! alas! does this dreadful crisis move no heart but thine'? Time flies'; words are unavailing'; the chieftains declare for instant battle. 4. O God! thou hast anointed me thy servant', not to curse, but to bless, my countrymen; yet now my blessing on their force were blasphemy against thy goodness. No'! I curse your purpose', homicides! I curse the bond of blood by which you are united. May fell division, infamy, and rout defeat your projects and rebuke your hopes! On you, and on your children, be the peril of the innocent blood which shall be shed this day! 5. I leave you', and forever! No longer shall these aged eyes be seared by the horrors they have witnessed. In caves, in forests, will I hide myself'; with tigers and with savage beasts will I commune`; and when at length we meet again before the blessed tribunal of that Deity', whose mild doctrines and whose mercies ye have this day renounced', then shall ye feel the agony and grief of soul which tear the bosom of your accuser now'. LESSON L. THE BENDED BOW. MRS. HEMANS. 3. FAL'-CHION, (fål'-chun.) 1. THERE was heard the sound of a coming foe'; |