The legendary consisting of original pieces, principally illustrative of American history, scenery, and manners |
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FIRST MEETING OF THE OLD AND NEW WORLD. |
 | FIRST MEETING OF THE OLD AND NEW WORLD. The legendary |  |
FIRST MEETING OF THE OLD AND NEW WORLD.
1492.
BY MRS SIGOURNEY.
She comes! she comes! with her white sails spread,
With her banners proudly streaming,
With a haughty brow, and an eye of dread,
Through its darkened fringes beaming.
And who is she, mid these island shades,
Unshielded from wrong or danger,
Who hastes from the depth of her forest glades
To welcome the stately stranger?
Her glance heeds not the gathering storm;
In its simple joy it blesses,
With her banners proudly streaming,
With a haughty brow, and an eye of dread,
Through its darkened fringes beaming.
And who is she, mid these island shades,
Unshielded from wrong or danger,
Who hastes from the depth of her forest glades
To welcome the stately stranger?
Her glance heeds not the gathering storm;
In its simple joy it blesses,
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And the grasp of her hand is as free and warm
As the wealth of her ebon tresses.
But the gold of her rivers shall turn to dust,
Ere from history's scroll hath faded,
The deeds of that visitant's savage lust,
Who thus her realm invaded.
Yes, many a pitying eye must weep
O'er the Old World's shameful story;
At the scourge which she raised o'er her sister's sleep,
And the blood that stained her glory.
As the wealth of her ebon tresses.
But the gold of her rivers shall turn to dust,
Ere from history's scroll hath faded,
The deeds of that visitant's savage lust,
Who thus her realm invaded.
Yes, many a pitying eye must weep
O'er the Old World's shameful story;
At the scourge which she raised o'er her sister's sleep,
And the blood that stained her glory.
| FIRST MEETING OF THE OLD AND NEW WORLD. The legendary | |