Let music swell the breeze,
  And ring from all the trees,
     Sweet freedom’s song;
  Let mortal tongues awake,
  Let all that breathe partake,
  Let rocks their silence break,—­
      The sound prolong.

  Our fathers’ God, to Thee,
  Author of liberty,
     To Thee I sing;
  Long may our land be bright
  With freedom’s holy light;
  Protect us by thy might,
      Great God our King.

Samuel Francis Smith.

* * * * *

“OLD IRONSIDES.”

[On the proposed breaking up of the United States frigate “Constitution.”]

  Ay, tear her tattered ensign down! 
   Long has it waved on high,
  And many an eye has danced to see
    That banner in the sky;
  Beneath it rung the battle-shout,
   And burst the cannon’s roar: 
  The meteor of the ocean air
    Shall sweep the clouds no more!

  Her deck, once red with heroes’ blood,
    Where knelt the vanquished foe,
  When winds were hurrying o’er the flood
    And waves were white below,
  No more shall feel the victor’s tread,
   Or know the conquered knee: 
  The harpies of the shore shall pluck
    The eagle of the sea!

  O better that her shattered hulk
    Should sink beneath the wave! 
  Her thunders shook the mighty deep,
    And there should be her grave: 
  Nail to the mast her holy flag,
    Set every threadbare sail,
  And give her to the god of storms,
    The lightning and the gale!

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

* * * * *

MEN OF THE NORTH AND WEST.

[APRIL, 1861.]

  Men of the North and West,
      Wake in your might. 
  Prepare, as the rebels have done,
      For the fight! 
  You cannot shrink from the test;
  Rise!  Men of the North and West!

  They have torn down your banner of stars;
      They have trampled the laws;
  They have stifled the freedom they hate,
      For no cause! 
  Do you love it or slavery best? 
  Speak!  Men of the North and West!

  They strike at the life of the State: 
      Shall the murder be done? 
  They cry:  “We are two!” And you? 
      “We are one!”
  You must meet them, then, breast to breast;
  On!  Men of the North and West!

  Not with words; they laugh them to scorn,
      And tears they despise;
  But with swords in your hands, and death
      In your eyes! 
  Strike home! leave to God all the rest;
  Strike!  Men of the North and West!

RICHARD HENRY STODDARD.

* * * * *

OUR COUNTRY’S CALL.

[1861.]