100
THE DEAD CENTURY
How, after weary pain and sin,
Strivings without and foes within,
Fruitless prayings and long suspense,
And toil that bore no recompense—
After peril and blood and tears,
Honor and Peace should crown the years!
This he saw
While his heart thrilled with solemn awe.
Strivings without and foes within,
Fruitless prayings and long suspense,
And toil that bore no recompense—
After peril and blood and tears,
Honor and Peace should crown the years!
This he saw
While his heart thrilled with solemn awe.
IX.
His clear eyes,
Gazing forward in glad surprise;
Saw how our land at last should be
Truly the home of the brave and free!
Saw from the old world's crowded streets,
Pestilent cities, and close retreats,
Forms gaunt and pallid with famine sore
Flee in hot haste to our happy shore,
Their sad eyes
Widening ever in new surprise.
Gazing forward in glad surprise;
Saw how our land at last should be
Truly the home of the brave and free!
Saw from the old world's crowded streets,
Pestilent cities, and close retreats,
Forms gaunt and pallid with famine sore
Flee in hot haste to our happy shore,
Their sad eyes
Widening ever in new surprise.
X.
From all lands
Thronging they come in eager bands;
Each with the tongue his mother spoke;
Each with the songs her voice awoke;
Each with his dominant hopes and needs,
Alien habits and varying creeds.
Bringing strange fictions and fancies they came,
Calling old truths by a different name,
When the lands
Sent their sons hither in thronging bands.
Thronging they come in eager bands;
Each with the tongue his mother spoke;
Each with the songs her voice awoke;
Each with his dominant hopes and needs,
Alien habits and varying creeds.
Bringing strange fictions and fancies they came,
Calling old truths by a different name,
When the lands
Sent their sons hither in thronging bands.
