"Lines"

-J.G. Whitter

(Written on reading an account of the first meeting of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society)

Faithful to freedom, when

Its name was held accursed -

Faithful, 'midst ruffian men,

Unto your holy trust.

 

Oh - steadfast in the Truth!

Not for yourselves alone,

Matron and gentle youth,

Your lofty zeal was shown;

For the bondman of all climes -

For Freedom's last abode -

For the hope of future times -

For the birthright gift of God -

 

For scorn'd and broken laws -

For honour and the right -

For the staked and perill's cause

Of liberty and light -

For holy eyes above

On a world of evil cast -

For on the children of your love -

For the mothers of the past!

 

Worthy of them are ye -

The pilgrim wives who dared

The waste and unknown sea,

And the hunter's perils shared.

Worthy of her whose mind,

Triumphant over all,

Ruler nor priest could bind,

Nor banishment appal.

 

Worthy of her who died

Martyr of Freedom, where

Your "Common's" verdant pride

Opens to sun and air;

Upheld at the dread hour

By strength which could not fail;

Before whose holy power

Bigot and priest turn'd pale.

 

God give ye strength to run,

Unawed by Earth or Hell,

The race ye have begun

So gloriously and well,

Until the trumpet-call

Of Freedom has gone forth,

With joy and life to all

The bondemen of the earth!

 

Until Immortal mind

Unshackled walks abroad,

And chains no longer bind

The image of our God.

Until no captive one

Murmurs on land or wave;

And, in his course, the sun

Looks down upon no Slave!