Part 6 (2/2)
THE BIRD'S RELEASE.
BY MRS. HEMANS.
Go forth, for she is gone!
With the golden light of her wavy hair She is gone to the fields of the viewless air: She hath left her dwelling lone!
Her voice hath pa.s.s'd away!
It hath pa.s.sed away like a summer breeze, When it leaves the hills for the for blue seas, Where we may not trace its way.
Go forth, and like her be free: With thy radiant wing, and thy glancing eye, Thou hast all the range of the sunny sky, And what is our grief to thee?
Is it aught even to her we mourn?
Doth she look on the tears by her kindred shed?
Doth she rest with the flowers o'er her gentle head?
Or float on the light wind borne?
We know not--but she is gone!
Her step from the dance, her voice from the song, And the smile of her eye from the festal throng; She hath loft her dwelling lone!
When the waves at sunset s.h.i.+ne, We may hear thy voice amidst thousands more, In the scented woods of our glowing sh.o.r.e; But we shall not know 'tis thine!
Even so with the loved one flown!
Her smile in the starlight may wander by, Her breath may be near in the wind's low sigh Around us--but all unknown.
Go forth, we have loosed thy chains!
We may deck thy cage with the richest flowers Which the bright day rears in our eastern bowers; But thou wilt not be lured again.
Even thus may the summer pour All fragrant things on the land's green breast, And the glorious earth like a bride be dress'd; But it wins _her_ back no more!
I was doubtful whether either Mr. Arlington or Annie were aware of my presence, and was just debating with myself whether I should make them aware of it by addressing them, or quietly steal away, when Col.
Donaldson decided the point by entering the library and speaking to me.
He came to ask that I would come to the parlor and see a boy who had just been sent from one of our charitable inst.i.tutions, to which he had applied for a lad to act as a helper to his old waiter, John, who was now old enough to require some indulgence, and had always been trustworthy enough to deserve some. The boy looked intelligent and honest--he was neat in his person and active in his movements.
”He is an orphan,” said Col. Donaldson, ”and the managers of the inst.i.tution have offered to bind him to me for seven years, or till he is of age. What do you think of it!”
”If the boy himself be willing, I should be glad to know he was so well provided for,” I replied; ”though in general, no abolitionist can be more vehemently opposed to negro slavery than I am to this apprentices.h.i.+p business. What is it but a slavery of the worst description? The master is endowed with irresponsible power, without the interest in the well-being of his slave, which the planter, the actual owner of slaves, ordinarily feels.”
”You speak strongly,” said Col. Donaldson.
”I feel strongly on this subject,” I answered. ”I knew one instance of the effects of this system which I have often thought of publis.h.i.+ng to the world, as speaking more powerfully against it than a thousand addresses could do.”
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