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SONG OF THE FREE.

On Freedom's holy altar-stone
We lay this day our hearts as one;
And deeply as those hearts can feel,
To Freedom's foes they're hearts of steel!
Hurrah for Freedom's rising sun!
For Freedom's battle well begun!
Hurrah for Freedom's chosen one,
For him for whom her laurels bloom!
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

O, not alone our vows we pay;
From rising to the setting day,
From Maine to Huron's prairie flowers,
A thousand voices blend with ours!

Nor hate, nor wrath, nor evil deed, Nor gift of blood doth Freedom need; But love, whose service never tires, And zeal to watch around her fires!

In joy and faith the seeds we cast,
Of Freedom's truth on every blast;
And trust to Heaven's own dew and rain
To nurse the flower and swell the grain.

Who calls thy service, Freedom, hard?
Who feels it not its own reward?
Who for its trials deems it less
A cause for praise and thankfulness?
O, toil-worn brothers, be of cheer!
Rejoice, O sisters, gleaning near!
Like fields of Heaven before your eyes,
The promise of the Future lies!

Hurrah for Freedom's rising sun!
For Freedom's battle well begun!
Hurrah for Freedom's chosen one,
For him for whom her laurels bloom!
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

THE POET.

BY JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.

Poet! who sittest in thy pleasant room,
Warming thy heart with idle thoughts of love,
And of a holy life that leads above,
Striving to keep life's spring flowers still in bloom,
And lingering to snuff their fresh perfume,-

O, there were other duties meant for thee
Than to sit down in peacefulness and Be!

O, there are brother hearts that dwell in gloom,
Souls loathsome, foul, and black with daily sin,
So crusted o'er with baseness, that no ray
Of Heaven's blessed light may enter in!

Come down then to the hot and dusky way,
And lead them back to hope and peace again,-
For, save in act, thy love is all in vain.

52

THE MAN OUT OF THE MOON.

The man of the moon Came down at noon.

Perhaps these lines occurred to some of the individuals who witnessed the disappearance of the man from the moon one balmy summer evening. There must have been at least one astronomer, poet, lunatic, and pair of lovers; and how many more may not easily be ascertained. But the moonshine still came down so gently, and the space vacated by that ancient man was filled with such calm brightness, that little was said and no commotion caused by his withdrawal from that place where he had been an admired fixture. Had he dropped down among any of the evening watchers, doubtless there would have been a great excitement-especially among children and nurses, with whom this man had been an object of greater interest than any other class. And, as every body was once a boy or girl, there might have been a revival of affection which would have manifested itself in waving of handkerchiefs, loud huzzas, and clapping of hands, perhaps in ringing of bells, and firing of cannon; and who knows what fine dinners might have been given him, and concerts, also, in which a few particular nursery rhymes might have been set to music by Vieux Temps, or Ole Bull, and the stranger almost paralysed by the excess of joyous sensibility. But those, who knew that he was gone, could not of course tell whether he had started upon a journey to the Sun, or to Venus, or to Herschel, or to some other place among the stars; and perhaps a few of them dreamed that he had come on a pilgrimage of love to the Moon's great satellite, EARTH. But, upon the same principle that little boats should keep near the shore," the inexperienced traveller had wisely resolved that his first voyage should terminate at the first landing place. Whether

those were moonstruck who first saw him

"Flying between the cold moon and the earth,

Where a fair lady throned by the west,"

held state upon a little island-whether they were moonstruck or not, matters little; but certainly no skylark ever fluttered into nest more unregarded, no eagle ever descended into its nest more untroubled, no snow-flake ever fell into its deep dingle more unnoticed, and no leaflet ever nestled under its shadowing rock more quietly, than the man from the moon came down, when he alighted under the broad shadow of a noble elm, in a ducal park.

tesy they received unquestioned the remarkable stranger, and invited him to their princely home.

"How beautiful is Earth," said the man, as a few days afterwards he rambled to the spot where he first pressed its soil, and how happy are her childdren. Before I came here I thought that peace was more common than bliss, that quiet was more freqent than joy; but hitherto I have investigated at a disadvantageous distance, and here I find that my ignorance was proverbial. Nevertheless, I have the will and capacity to learn, and the duke himself shall not know more of his neighbors than I will as

certain."

He bounded over a sweet-briar hedge, and wended his way to a little hamlet, which nestled between the grove and upland at a short distance. He entered the nearest cot, and the first sound which reached his ears was a cry for bread.

"Bread-BREAD!" repeated he, "I saw it given to the dogs this morning. Bread! there is enough at the castle. Go to the duchess, my child, she will give you enough of bread." The child ceased her cry, but looked at him wonderingly, and an elderly sister shook her head, yet said nothing. Then the man heard a moan from a low pallet, and looking into the dark recess, he saw stretched upon it the She called the girl to emaciated form of a woman.

her side.

"Is there not a little more wine in the phial?” she asked.

"Not one drop," was the reply. The woman moaned more faintly.

"Wine! wine!" repeated the man; "we drank last night at the castle until our heads ached, and some of the company were carried away drowned by it. Wine and bread;" he repeated, as he turned upon his heel, and flew towards the castle. He entered the drawing room, and a servant passed him with a silver salver, upon which were refreshments for the

ladies, and the sideboard was covered with various wines. He grasped a bottle, and snatching the salver from the waiter, he turned to go. But the astonished domestic made such an outcry, and vociferated,

Thief! Robber!" so lustily that he was soon overtaken. The duke came to learn the cause of the tumult.

"He was stealing your silver." repeated the servant, after all your kindness to him." The duke looked at his mysterious guest with a penetrating eye.

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"I saw a child almost within a stone's throw of your mansion," replied the man, who cried for bread. I saw also a woman fainting for a cordial, and here I knew that there was enough of bread and wine. I ran that they might the sooner be relieved from their misery."

The deer turned upon him their large lustrous eyes, and darted away to their leafy converts; the rooks slowly wheeled around above his head, and sailed upon the breezes of their leafy homes; and the watch.dog met him at the portal with a fawn of The duke blushed as he heard the simple reply of affection. At the porter's lodge had gathered some the man, and almost doubted for the moment wheof the juvenile nobility, and with the utmost cour-ther he himself were a man, Bread and wine were

instantly despatched by the servant, and the duke took the stranger into his closet. What he told him there is what my readers already know-that Want and Misery stand even within the sunshine of Plenty and Prosperity; that Sickness, Pain and Death are in the daily paths of the rich and powerful; that all these things are looked upon as necessary evils, and not allowed for a moment to interrupt the usual course of business and amusement. But he could not make it appear to the man out of the Moon as it did to himself. The more common it is, the more dreadful it seemed to this wanderer from another sphere. The more difficult it appeared to find the remedy, the more earnestly he thought it should be sought. It seemed to him that the great fault was in the government, and at its head was a lady as young, as kind, as compassionate as the duke's eldest daughter. He left the castle, and hastened to the capitol. He lingered not by the way, but sighs obtruded themselves upon his notice which gave him much pain. He sought the palace; he asked audience of the queen. He brought no references, no introductions, and could not be admitted to the young sovereign; but his earnestness gained him an interview with one of her counsellors. He had so much to say, and knew so little how to say it, his ideas were all in such confusion, that it was some time before the minister could gather aught from him. "To the point," said he at length.-Tell me, stranger, what you want."

I

"I want RIGHT!" said the man. "I came a stranger to your land, and at first, all appeared to me very beautiful. But I soon found hunger, destitution, and death. I inquired the cause, and asked for the remedy. I was told there was none; but I found that if relief could be obtained this was the place to look for it. I left for this city. I hurried on my way; but unless I shut my eyes, I could not but see wrong. I have seen huge heaps of grain converted into liquid poison, and starving men drunk of it that they might drown all sense of want and misery. have seen broad fields lie waste as pleasure ground, while squalid crowds were faint for food. I saw a mighty ship filled with brave men; and their garments glittered with beauty, and gushing strains of music stirred their noble hearts. I thought it a glorious sight, but I learnt that they were sent to kill or be killed of their fellow men. I saw a high and narrow structure spring upward to the sky; and they brought out a man and put him to death between the heavens and the earth. Crowds of men gazed upward at the sight, and think ye not that God looked down? I went into an old moss grown church, and there I saw the man who prayed at the gallows; and all the people said with him Be ye also merciful, even as your Father in Heaven is merciful.' For if ye forgive not men their trespasses, how will your Father which is in Heaven, forgive your tres

passes?

But the more my spirit was pained within me, the more I hurried to this place. And when I was come I saw mighty palaces for the accommodation of a few, and I saw also men herding together in filth and wretchedness; and those who had not where to lay their heads. I have seen warehouses filled with cloths for raiment, and stout men passed by them with scarce a rag to cover them; yet touched they nothing. I have seen bakeries full of bread, and storehouse filled with other food; and savage looking men proved that they were not yet fiends, for they did not strike dead those who withheld from them these provisions. Even here I have seen dogs and horses receive the attention denied to man. You ask me what I want: I want to know if you have known aught of this; and, if so, why stand you here idle?"

"Who are you?" rejoined the astonished courtier.

"The man out of the Moon."

"Aha, aha,-a lunatic! I thought as much. Now let me see if we have not a nice place for you which you have not yet espied;" and calling the servants, he ordered them to take the man to the hospital.

But he slipped from their grasp and was soon out of the way. He strayed to the sea side, for there was there less of the misery he could not relieve. He found a man sitting upon a solitary rock, and gazing far out upon the waters. There was that in his eye which told the Lunarian that there he might meet with sympathy. So they sat together, while the sea-winds moaned around them, and talked of wrong and oppression.

66

"But why do the people bear all this ?" asked the Man. Why do they not rise in their strength, and demand clothing, food and shelter? Why do they not stretch out their hands and take it, when almost within their grasp? Why at least do they not die as men, rather than live like beasts."

"They are enchanted," was the reply of the philosopher.

Then the Man thought how impossible it would be for him to disenchant them, and he sighed; and when the philosopher had gone he unrobed himself, and spread his wings, and flew across the channel till he came to another land.

We will not follow him, as he strayed through various cities, towns, and villages, along the Mediterranean. But he heard of it everywhere—he had heard of it before he crossed the channel-of a happy land, far across many wide waters-a new world, where tyranny, oppression, and corruption, had not found time to generate their train of evils. yearned for this better land; and one night, when the sky was dark with sombre clouds, and no one could witness his flight, he left the old for the newer continent.

He

He alighted at the plantation of a wealthy gentle

Selfishness, and Pride. He saw a wealthy lady roll along in her carriage, while a feeble woman could hardly totter across the streets. "The carriage would have held more than two," said he to himself. He followed the faltering footsteps until he came to a cellar. The woman approached a bed, upon which two children were gasping for breath,

man. With manly courtesy he was received, and, were also Wealth and Poverty-here were Misery, entertained with chivalrous generosity which asked no questions of the stranger, and knew nothing but that he needed rest. He was truly weary, and spent some quiet days in the family of his host, for whom he formed quite an attachment. But one day as he was walking in the grounds, he heard the voice of piercing lamentation. He looked around, and saw a negro woman, with her young child pressed to her bosom, and sobbing as though her heart would break. He inquired the cause of her sorrow, and heard that her husband had just been taken away to be sold to another master. Her children had been taken from her long before, all but the babe upon her breast.

The Man could not understand this at first, but after long questioning he learned some of the evils of slavery. He returned to his host. He was sitting with his wife at his side, and his child upon his knee. He caressed them both with affection. The Man looked at him sternly,

"How dare you love your child?" said he. "How dare you adore your wife?" when you have separated mother and child, husband and wife, and consigned them all to misery.

"Who are you?" replied the host, "that you speak thus in my own house, where as yet unquestioned you have been honored and cherished as a stranger and a guest."

"I am the man out of the Moon."

Then the host laughed heartily. "Ah, moonstruck, I see," said he, carelessly; and touching his head he nodded to his wife. After this they would neither of them heed what he said, but treated him good humoredly, as a maniac.

"Can nothing be done for them?" asked the Man.

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"I have just called a physician," replied the mother. In a few moments he came in. He looked tenderly at his little patients. They are dying of want," said he. They want every thing they should now have; but first of all, is the want of fresh air." The Man started from the house and ran to a street, in which was the residence of an eminent philanthropist. His questionings had already led him to a knowledge of the good. He came to the house. The master was not at home-he had gone to his country-seat, and his mansion was vacant, with the exception of one servant who was left to open the windows each day, and see the cool air breathed through the deserted rooms. And, as he looked at the lofty, well-ventilated and vacant apartments, he thought of the children who were dying in a neighboring cellar for want of air.

The man was wearied, disappointed and vexed. «If this is the happiest spot on Earth," said he, "then let me go back to the Moon." The moon, like

It was a lovely starlight night.

a silver crescent, hung afar in the blue ether, and there was one bright solitary cloud in the clear sky. The Man spread his wings, and, bidding farewell to Earth, he turned his face upward to a better home. In the neighborhood, however, he met not with As he passed the bright cloud he thought he saw, this consideration, for he would not hold his peace faintly delineated as though in bright shadow, the while he believed a great wrong was calling for re- outlines of a human form. He approached nearer, dress. They called him an Abolitionist, and pro-and the cloud seemed like a light couch, upon which posed assisting him in his departure from a place an etherealized being reclined.-Lofty intellect and which did not seem to suit him very well. They would provide feathers, if not wings, and attach them to him with tar, as the best artificial method. They would not furnish him with a horse, but they found a rail, and this with the aid of their own locomotive powers, would assist him greatly.

The Man felt as though he would rather continue free of all such obligations, and on the very night when all things were preparing for his exit, he spread his wings upon the darkness and flew away.

childlike mildness were blended in his pale spiritual countenance, but there was a glance of sorrow in his deep eyes which told that, if an angel, he had not forgotten the trials of earth.

The Man said to him, "I have just left Earth for Moon, but I would gladly leave it for any other world. You seemed to have returned to it from Heaven."

"It was my home," replied the spirit. "There I first received existence; there I first drew the He had heard the negroes speak of a land to the breath of life. It was my first home; and, though north, where there were no slaves, where oppres-I know it is full of sin and sorrow, yet at times I sion, cruelty, and selfishness did not exist; and he leave Heaven that I may view it once again." thought that must be the better land of which he had so often heard. He came to its far famed city; that where morals, intelligence, and prosperity are more nearly connected than in any other. He was pleased at first, but soon became dissatisfied, because it fell far short of his ideas of social perfection. Here

"And did you know, while there, that it was filled with Guilt, Ignorance, or Pain? or did you neglect the great interests of Humanity for selfish pleasure ?"

"I did not live for myself alone. I endeavored to live for my kind, and to find my happiness in try

ing to promote the well being of others. I see now that I might have done more, but I saw it not then. God had given me a feeble frame, and I might not go forth actively among my brethren. But I sent my voice among them. I spoke aloud in behalf of the wronged and down-trodden. I spoke not of one evil, but of that which is the source of all evil. I spoke to the young, knowing that they would soon be the middle-aged, to act, and then the aged to die. I sent my voice among the ignorant, and invited them to come to the tree of knowledge. bliss is now in the assurance I have received, that my words will not be forgotten.”

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And my

But, if you were doing good," said the Man, sternly, "Why did you go thence?"

"I was called," replied the spirit, gently. "And is there any who may take your place?" "I hope and believe there are many noble spirits, who are as earnest, as able, as faithful and more active, who are laboring for their brother man. But there is another agent. Would you witness it?" and drawing aside a drapery of cloud, he disclosed a shining volume. The night breeze gently wafted its leaves, and, in letters of brightness, were written upon them such words as these:

"God hath made of one blood all the nations of the earth." 66 Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

"The laborer is worthy of his hire." "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them." With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

The Man glanced at them, and then said, "Is this book there?"

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It is there," replied the spirit, and there it will remain until its words are embroidered upon the hems of their garments, engraved upon the bells of their horses, and bound as frontlets between their eyes. Yea, even until they are impressed upon the hearts of all men."

The spirit veiled the book again in aerial drapery, and disappeared himself in the bright cloud.

The Man turned away, with a spirit Jess sad; and ere morning dawned, he looked down again from his "old accustomed place," with his usual placid smile; and none would now know from his benign expression, that we, poor erring mortals, had ever grieved and angered the Man in the Moon.-Lowell Offering.

THE LADY'S YES.

BY ELIZABETH BARRETT BARRETT.

"Yes!" I answered you last night; "No!" this morning, Sir, I say! Colors, seen by candle-light,

Will not look the same by day. When the tabors played their best, Lamps above, and laughs below

Love me sounded like a jest,

Fit for Yes or fit for No!

Call me false, or call me free-
Vow, whatever light may shine,
No man on thy face shall see
Any grief for change on mine.

Yet the sin is on us both-
Time to dance is not to woo-
Wooer light makes fickle troth-
Scorn of me recoils on you!

Learn to win a lady's faith

Nobly, as the thing is high; Bravely, as for life or deathWith a loyal gravity.

Lead her from the festive boards, Point her to the starry skies, Guard her, by your truthful words, Pure from courtship's flatteries.

By your truth she shall be true—

Ever true, as wives of yoreAnd her Yes, once said to you, SHALL be YES for evermore."

HOW TO KEEP LENT.

BY ROBERT HERRICK.

(A paraphrase of Isaiah lviii. 3—7.) Is this a Fast, to keep The larder leane

And clean

From fat of neates and sheep?—

Is to quit the dish

Of flesh, yet still

To fill

The platter high with fish?

Is it to fast an houre,

Or ragg'd to go,

Or show

A downcast look and soure?
No:-'Tis a fast to dole

Thy sheaf of wheat
And meat

Unto the hungry soule.

It is to fast from strife,
From old debate
And hate;

To circumcise thy life;
To shew a heart grief rent;
To starve thy sin,

Not bin;

And that's to keep thy Lent!

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