The following touching and inimitable beautiful lines have been erroneously attributed to John Milton. The New YorkHistorical Magazinefrom which we copy them, accompanies them with the following explanatory remarks as to their origin:"The simple fact…
[The following sweet poem was read by the authoress at the re-opening of Colored Grammar School No. 1, March 12, 1860.—ED. ANGLO-AFRICAN]Take the footstool, little creature—
Place it very gently down;
Smooth the wrinkles very neatly
From the…
Securely chained to the walls of stone,Within a dungeon damp and low—There ne'er was heard a triendly tone;
A captive slept,
A youthful brow the captive bore,And sadness deep his features wore,For darksome clouds his spirit o'er
Had rudely…
Under the wave!Keel that has girt its furrow round the world,Canvas to every ocean breeze unfurled,Cordage that rang like harp-strings to the blast,Lithe spars that bent and struggled as it past,Like wrestler's braveInto the surging gulf of waters…
Onward, onward, sons of freedom,
In the great and glorious strife
You've a high and holy mission
On the battle field of life.
See oppression's feet of iron
Grind a brother to the ground,
And from bleeding heart and bosm,
Gapeth many a fearful…
Slowly o'er his darkened features,
Stole the warning shades of death;
And we knew the shadowing angel
Waited for his parting breath.
He had started for his freedom,
And his heart beat firm and high—
But before he won the guerdon,
Came the…
Thank God for little children!
Bright flowers by earth's wayside,
The dancing, joyous life-boats
Upon life's stormy tide!
Thank God for little children!
When our skies are cold and gray,
They steal as sunshine in our hearts,
And steal our…
There's a whisper round my soul, father,
And it tells me I must go,
While my heart throbs back the answer,
In beating so faint and low.
I am sorry to leave you, father,
I know you will miss me so,
And the world, for you, will gather
Such a…
Make me a grave where'ere you will,In a lowly plain, or a lofty hill; Make it among earth's humblest graves,But not in a land where men are slaves.I could not rest if around my graveI heard the steps of a trembling slave;His shadow above my silent…
Thank God! that thou hast spoken
Words earnest, true, and brave:
The lightning of thy lips has smote
The fetters of the slave.
I thought the shadows deepened,
Round the pathway of the slave,
As one by one his faithful friends
Were dropping in…
