Banished.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1902, 13 September 1884, Page 6

Banished.

moai MVssA.cnufc.ETTn, 1(560. Ovßit the threshold of Km pleasant home Set in green clearings parsed the exiled Friend, In ,<*irap'e trast, misdoubting not tho end. " Dear heart ot mine 1 " he said, "tho time has come? To tjust the Lord for shelter." One long gaza The good wif3 turned on oaeh familiav thing — The lowing lri>ie, the orchard blossoming, The open door that showed the hearth-lhe's blaze — And calmly answered, " Yea, He will provide." Silent and alow they crossed the homestead's bound, Lingering longest by their child's gravemound. • " Move on or stay and hang 1 " the sheriff ciied. They left behind thorn more than home or laud. And set their faces to an alien strand. Safer with wind 3 and waves than human wrath, With ravening wolves than those whose zeal for God Was cruelty to man, the exiles trod Drear leagues of forest without guide or path, Ov, launching fiail boats on the uncharted sea, Bound storm-vexed capes, whose teeth of granite ground The waves to fo&ni, their perilous way they wound. Enduring all things so their souls were free, Oh, true confosnors, shaming them who did Anew the wrong, toeir pilgrim fathers bore ! For you the Mayflower spread her sail once more, Freighted with souls, to all that duty bid Faithful as they who sought an unknown land, O'er wintry seas, from 1 Holland's Hook of Sandi Aquidneck's isle, Nantucket's lonely shores, And Indian-haunted Narragansett saw The way-worn travellers zound their campfires draw ; Or heard the plashing of their weary oars. And every place whereon they rested grew Happier for pure and gracious womanhood, And men whose names for stainless honor stood, Founders of Statos and rulers wise and true, The muse of history yet shall make amends To those who freedom, peace, and justice taught, Beyond their dark age led the van of thought, And left unforfeited the name of Friends. 0 mother Stale, how folliod was thy design ! Tli? gain was then a, tho loss alone was thine. — John Ct. Whittier in Raiysr's Weekly.