The Reliquary By Bernard and Lucy Barton. With A Prefatory Appeal for Poetry and Poets |
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| II. |
THE GOAL;
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 | The Reliquary |  |
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THE GOAL;
OR, CLARKSON IN OLD AGE.
Near half a century hath flown;
That way-side wanderer now
A venerable sage hath grown,
With years traced on his brow.
That way-side wanderer now
A venerable sage hath grown,
With years traced on his brow.
More bent in form, more dim of eye,
More faltering in his pace;
But time has stamped in dignity,
More than it reft of grace.
More faltering in his pace;
But time has stamped in dignity,
More than it reft of grace.
And joy is his, age cannot chill,
Memories it need not shun;
The lone enthusiast of Wadesmill
His glorious goal hath won!
Memories it need not shun;
The lone enthusiast of Wadesmill
His glorious goal hath won!
Not vainly has he watched the ark
Wherein his hopes were shrined,
Nor vainly fann'd fair freedom's spark
In many a kindling mind.
Wherein his hopes were shrined,
Nor vainly fann'd fair freedom's spark
In many a kindling mind.
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At times, indeed, those hopes might seem
Lost in the whelming wave;
That spark, a faintly struggling gleam—
Quench'd to the hapless slave.
Lost in the whelming wave;
That spark, a faintly struggling gleam—
Quench'd to the hapless slave.
Anon the dove with weary wing,
Her olive-branch would bear;
A sign to which his hopes might cling
In hours of anxious care.
Her olive-branch would bear;
A sign to which his hopes might cling
In hours of anxious care.
The bow of promise has come forth;
It stands as erst it stood,
When the old landmarks of the earth
Emerged above the flood.
It stands as erst it stood,
When the old landmarks of the earth
Emerged above the flood.
And Christian states have own'd His right,
Who bade the waves recede,
As Freedom's champions, in her might,
For Afric rose to plead.
Who bade the waves recede,
As Freedom's champions, in her might,
For Afric rose to plead.
Well may the vet'ran of that band,
In life's declining days,
Offer, with lifted heart and hand,
Thanksgiving, glory, praise!
In life's declining days,
Offer, with lifted heart and hand,
Thanksgiving, glory, praise!
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His name, with those of his compeers,
Have travell'd earth's wide round:
And grateful hearts and listening ears,
Have hail'd their welcome sound.
Have travell'd earth's wide round:
And grateful hearts and listening ears,
Have hail'd their welcome sound.
His toils are o'er, his part is done;
The captive is set free;
But Europe! though his goal be won,
Much yet devolves on thee.
The captive is set free;
But Europe! though his goal be won,
Much yet devolves on thee.
The bondage that made Afric vile
Can ne'er be wrapt in night,
Until her barren wastes shall smile
Beneath the Gospel's light.
Can ne'er be wrapt in night,
Until her barren wastes shall smile
Beneath the Gospel's light.
Till where the scourge created fear,
The cross shall waken love,
And Afric's children altars rear
To Him who reigns above!
The cross shall waken love,
And Afric's children altars rear
To Him who reigns above!
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