“It is evident to my mind,” returned Haguna, thoughtfully, “that the seven sages, joyfully escaping from the frivolous necessities of society, would return to the privileges of the children of eternal Nature, and sleep confidingly under the blue welkin.”

“Rheumatism,” suggested Anthrops.

“Rheumatism!” echoed Haguna, disdainfully.  “What is rheumatism?  What are any mere pains of the flesh, to the glorious content of the unshackled spirit revelling in the freedom of its own nature?  Thus the cultivated Reason returns, with a touching appreciation of the Beautiful and the Fit, to the simple couch of childish spontaneity.  Mankind, after long confinement in marble palaces, sepulchres of their inner being, retrograde to the golden age.  The wisdom of the world lies down to sleep under the open sky.  Such a beautiful comparison!  It must be true.”

“Really, Madam, your conclusions, although attained with great rapidity of reasoning, are hardly deducible from the premises.  Let me remark”—­

“Reduce Camenes to Celarent, and the argument is plainly irrefragable.  It requires a mind deeply toned to sympathy with the inner significance of all things to”—­

“Contemporary testimony is absolutely necessary, if not suspiciously sullied by credulity or deceit,—­in which case, the nearest trustworthy historian, if not more than a hundred years from the specified time, is incomparably preferable.  But”—­

Haguna again interrupted, her voice a little raised with excitement.  The dispute waxed warm, on either side authorities were quoted and rejected, and how it terminated has never been recorded.  But the philosopher in the corner rubbed his hands with satisfaction, exclaiming,—­

“Thank fortune, we may now have a little peace!”

THE FLOWER OF LIBERTY.

  What flower is this that greets the morn,
  Its hues from heaven so freshly born? 
  With burning star and flaming band
  It kindles all the sunset land;—­
  O, tell us what its name may be! 
  Is this the Flower of Liberty? 
      It is the banner of the free,
      The starry Flower of Liberty!

  In savage Nature’s far abode
  Its tender seed our fathers sowed;
  The storm-winds rocked its swelling bud,
  Its opening leaves were streaked with blood,
  Till, lo! earth’s tyrants shook to see
  The full-blown Flower of Liberty! 
      Then hail the banner of the free,
      The starry Flower of Liberty!

  Behold its streaming rays unite
  One mingling flood of braided light,—­
  The red that fires the Southern rose,
  With spotless white from Northern snows,
  And, spangled o’er its azure, see
  The sister Stars of Liberty! 
      Then hail the banner of the free,
      The starry Flower of Liberty!

  The blades of heroes fence it round;
  Where’er it springs is holy ground;
  From tower and dome its glories spread;
  It waves where lonely sentries tread;
  It makes the land as ocean free,
  And plants an empire on the sea! 
      Then hail the banner of the free,
      The starry Flower of Liberty!