“THE LIBERTY BELLS”

This is the hour they then foretold —

When earth, inebriate with crime,

Laughed right to scorn, and guilt, grown bold,

Knelt worshiping at mammon's shrine.

This is the hour! Corruption's band

Is driven back; and periled right,

Rescued by the “fanatic” hand,

Spans our broad heaven of light.

Righteousness ne'er — awestruck or dumb —

Feared for an hour the tyrant's heel!

Injustice to the combat sprang;

God to the rescue — Liberty, peal!

Joy is in every belfry bell —

Joy for the captive! Sound it long!

Ye who have wept fourscore can tell

The holy meaning of their song.

‘ Tis freedom's birthday — blood-bought boon!

O war-rent flag! O soldier-shroud!

Thine be the glory — nor too soon

Is heard your “Cry aloud!”

O not too soon is rent the chain

And charter, trampling right in dust!

Till God is God no longer — ne'er again

Quench liberty that's just.