PART VII
CONDITIONS OF THE REVOLUTION
CHAPTER XXVI — THE PATRIOTS
159. "Liberty Tree" (1775)
BY THOMAS PAINE
Paine was the son of a staymaker in England, and emigrated to America in the midst of the political excitement of 1774. His various pamphlets had a wide and powerful influence. — Bibliography : Tyler, Literary History of the Revolution, I, 452 471. — For the Liberty Tree, see Winsor, Memorial History of Boston, III, 159.
IN a chariot of light from the regions of day,
- The Goddess of Liberty came;
Ten thousand celestials directed the way,
- And hither conducted the dame.
A fair budding branch from the gardens above,
- Where millions with millions agree,
She brought in her hand, as a pledge of her love,
- And the plant she named, Liberty Tree.
II.
The celestial exotic struck deep in the ground,
- Like a native it flourished and bore.
The fame of its fruit drew the nations around,
- To seek out this peaceable shore.
Unmindful of names or distinctions they came,
- For freemen like brothers agree,
With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued,
- And their temple was Liberty tree.
454
