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20
HIS BOYHOOD.
His eldest son, Arradas' heir,
Toussaint L'Overture, who there
Was given birth,
In seventeen hundred forty-three,
Was destined by the gods to be
A man of worth.
Toussaint L'Overture, who there
Was given birth,
In seventeen hundred forty-three,
Was destined by the gods to be
A man of worth.
A slender boy, he grew apace;
A Prince-apparent of his race!
Most eagerly
He sat him down at Learning's feast,
His teacher, pious Pierre Baptiste
Exultingly
A Prince-apparent of his race!
Most eagerly
He sat him down at Learning's feast,
His teacher, pious Pierre Baptiste
Exultingly
Taught him to read and write and pray,
Some Latin, French, Geometry;
To meditate,
Upon the precious word of God,
His name to magnify, and laud
His high estate.
Some Latin, French, Geometry;
To meditate,
Upon the precious word of God,
His name to magnify, and laud
His high estate.
To herd the sheep was his employ—
This gentle, silent, thoughtful boy.
On mountain-wing
With Nature vast his soul communed,
His very being well attuned
Rich strains to sing.
This gentle, silent, thoughtful boy.
On mountain-wing
With Nature vast his soul communed,
His very being well attuned
Rich strains to sing.
21
Baptiste explained religious lore,
Of many a saint long gone before,
Now hid in mist;
Of noble martyrs, who had died
For Him who once was crucified—
Lord Jesus Christ.
Of many a saint long gone before,
Now hid in mist;
Of noble martyrs, who had died
For Him who once was crucified—
Lord Jesus Christ.
His father taught of Fatherland,
Loved Africa, torn from whose strand.
Long years ago,
He, in the prime of manhood brave,
From freedem, to become a slave,
Was forced to go.
Loved Africa, torn from whose strand.
Long years ago,
He, in the prime of manhood brave,
From freedem, to become a slave,
Was forced to go.
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