Part 22 (1/2)
Long, too long, have we been dreaming, O'er our country's sin and shame; Let us now, the time redeeming, Press the helpless captive's claim, Till, exulting, He shall cast aside his chain.
ODE TO JAMES G. BIRNEY.
Words by Elizur Wright. Music by G.W.C.
[Music]
We hail thee, Birney, just and true, The calm and fearless, staunch and tried, The bravest of the valiant few, Our country's hope, our country's pride!
In Freedom's battle take the van; We hail thee as an honest man.
Thy country, in her darkest hour, When heroes bend at Mammon's shrine, And virtue sells herself to Power, Lights up in smiles at deeds like thine!
Then welcome to the battle's van-- We _hail_ thee as an HONEST MAN!
Thy own example leads the way From Egypt's gloom to Canaan's light; Thy justice is the breaking day Of Slavery's long and guilty night; Then welcome to the battle's van-- We hail thee as an honest man.
Thine is the eagle eye to see, And thine a human heart to feel; A worthy leader of the free, We'll trust thee with a Nation's weal; We'll trust thee in the battle's van-- We _hail_ thee as an honest man.
An _honest man_--an _honest man_-- G.o.d made thee on his n.o.blest plan, To do the right and brave the scorn; To stand in Freedom's ”hope forlorn;”
Then welcome to the triumph's van-- WE HAIL THEE AS OUR CHOSEN MAN!
A TRIBUTE TO DEPARTED WORTH.[5]
[Footnote 5: As sung by G.W.C. at the erection of the monument to the memory of Myron Holley, Mount Hope, Rochester. It may be sung as a Dirge.]
[Music]
Oh, it is not the tear at this moment shed, When the cold turf has just been laid o'er him, That can tell how beloved was the soul that's fled, Or how deep in our hearts we deplore him: 'Tis the tear through many a long day wept, Through a life by his loss all shaded, 'Tis the sad remembrance fondly kept, When all other griefs have faded.
Oh! thus shall we mourn, and his memory's light While it s.h.i.+nes through our hearts will improve them; For worth shall look fairer, and truth more bright, When we think how he lived but to love them.
And as buried saints the grave perfume, Where fadeless they've long been lying;-- So our hearts shall borrow a sweetening bloom From the image he left there in dying.
THE LIBERTY VOTER'S SONG.
Words by E. Wright, jr. Air, from ”Niel Gow's Farewell.”
[Music]
The vote, the vote, the mighty vote, Though once we used a humbler note, And prayed our servants to be just, We tell the now they must, they must.
Chorus.