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THE MISSISSIPPI.
From Pacific; from the islands where the spice-winds softly blow;
Off the sultry Afric border; shores where Europe's olives grow.
All too few;—in hillside pastures 'neath the axe the stout oaks reel,
Pines of Saginaw and Saco hewn for masts to meet the keel.
Night and day the roaring forges shape the anchor, weld the chain,
Round the ball, and cast the cannon: O their glows shall not be vain!
Day and night the engines labor, hammers ring and shuttles fly,
Till the avenging fleet is fashioned, Southward set, with colors high.
Homeward come the eager war-ships, scattered wide in foreign seas;
Past the Indies, through the Gulf-way, all their canvas to the breeze!
Right across the sandy shallows, up the channel broad and deep,—
Hark! their cannon's judgment thunder wakes the traitor-city's sleep!
Moated Jackson, strong St. Philip! ye were weak and powerless then
Low must crumble wall and bastion had ye thrice ten thousand men.
Ye may man your casemates newly, hurl your shot like hellish rain,—
Off the sultry Afric border; shores where Europe's olives grow.
All too few;—in hillside pastures 'neath the axe the stout oaks reel,
Pines of Saginaw and Saco hewn for masts to meet the keel.
Night and day the roaring forges shape the anchor, weld the chain,
Round the ball, and cast the cannon: O their glows shall not be vain!
Day and night the engines labor, hammers ring and shuttles fly,
Till the avenging fleet is fashioned, Southward set, with colors high.
Homeward come the eager war-ships, scattered wide in foreign seas;
Past the Indies, through the Gulf-way, all their canvas to the breeze!
Right across the sandy shallows, up the channel broad and deep,—
Hark! their cannon's judgment thunder wakes the traitor-city's sleep!
Moated Jackson, strong St. Philip! ye were weak and powerless then
Low must crumble wall and bastion had ye thrice ten thousand men.
Ye may man your casemates newly, hurl your shot like hellish rain,—
