USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Billerica > Celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of Billerica, Massachusetts, May 29th, 1855 > Part 4
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By an inclement voyage.
How steadfast eye and dauntless heart,
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Dared with the joys of home to part, And for their faith to die."
" No pillar'd fire these dare-go men, Led forth from bondage sore ; but when They launched their ship upon the waves, Resolved to be no longer slaves, Or bear the everlasting pains Of bigot's yokes, and smarting chains ; Good unseen angels from their Egypt led,
, And cheered them whilst for promised land they fled ; Sustained by faith, and hope, and prayer, " Resolved to trust God's watchful care, And dare the billowy surging deep, Regardless of their doom ;- They sought to God's commandments keep, And find a peaceful tomb.'?
" From blazing fagots piled the stake around They heard their burning brethren cry ; And from the rack of breaking bones the sound, Where christian heroes bravely die. A dreadful sight,- An awful night Of mental darkness shrouded all The land, and like a funeral pall, Spread over church and state, With streaming eyes a rare-known band, Bid home adieu, And trusted in an unknown land, To find a new."
" They found the new, of " milk and honey " bare, All landscapes wore a savage dress ; Their faith was sure and strong that God was there, And would their lives protect and bless. They faltered not, But bore their lot Like martyrs for a righteous cause,
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Uncrocked by despot's bloody laws, And priestcraft's wickedness. The church had ground all truth to powder, And reveled in its lust ; And sought to blast its cannons louder, To fright its " worms of dust."
IX.
" On Pilgrim Rock where billows roar, And foam, and beat the barren shore ; The Indian saw the pale-face land, Put down the knee - raise up the land - ~ Then heard him pray, as well he could, For every daily needed good. Such hero-men, how rare, how few, The war-worn ages bring to view, Along the path of time.
They came unknowing what the coming meant, Saw not the great God-work for which they went. We'll tell you now for what they left all dear, And shed for old " sweet home " a parting tear. Old Europe blind, and in foul dungeons chained, No light, or life, or progress there was gained. But Progress must have room in spite of kings, And priests, with all their bolts, and bars, and rings. Mankind out through red seas of blood and fire, . Must go, if need be, on its mission higher. The church strap'd all to its Procrustean bed, And hewed, and hacked, and stamped all doubters dead ; And with its iron heel all freedom crushed, And quickly out all lights of science brushed.
The Church and State, two thieves in blood well dyed, Between which Truth was daily crucified. Some better now they are, but not too much, To us they seem to be akin to such.
God's own pure thoughts the laws of nature are, 'Tis well to heed them with especial care. The hour and men dare-devil for the hour
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Had come :- stout hearts of pope-defying power. The world enchanted,.sleeping, gaping wide, Stooped low its shoulders for the priests to ride. They dared a blow to rouse its lethargy, Despising rack and stake,- they must be free,- Must boldly face their fate -the wrath - the woe That waited them. Unshrinking forth they go To plant a nation far beyond the waves, Then sink, perchance, to lone unhonored graves. They dreamed not then what tales of them would live Through all then future time. -
Could they have seen the visions bright, Far on beyond their dawning sight ; How Progress took with them her way, And what would come of that some day ; Ilow millions on Columbia's plains, Would shout in more than mortal strains, Their daring deeds from shore to shore, And sing their praises evermore :- Temptations had been strong enough, To make them brave an ocean rough, And home with cannibals.
But no bright visions blest their eyes, All gloomy, cheerless, earth and skies. Each day and night home-sickness lent, And dark was all the way they went. The frightful Indian all night hidious made, And all day, fearful was their ambuscade."
X .
" Yet like the rock on which they landed, strong And steadfast there they stood alone : And with the elements a warfare long They held till nearly all were gone. Though griefs and terrors sternest faces paled, And anguish wrung the heaving breast ; Their flag of faith was at the mast head nailed, And with that faith they found their rest.
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When hungry wolves about their huts would howl, And naught but famine near, seemed sure ; When tempests lowered and wore a fearful scowl, And hope scarce longer could endure ; When fathers told with quivering lips their fears, And thought all surely lost but Heaven ; When mothers pressed their babes to frozen tears, And life seemed all to sorrow given ; They knelt upon the flooring bare And told their woes ; There sought relief in earnest prayer,- There found repose."
XI.
" What spot of earth such prayers could know, As often there were said ? What place so worthy heaven below, For offerings to be laid ? There Progress found a place to grow - Grew slow at first, but sure :
They thought not then what that would show, Which would all time endure.
An empire great they planted there,
Destined to monstrous wealth and power.
What priceless blessings now you share, Which come of what was done that hour ; The hour that iron bands were burst, Which bound the soul to death and dust ; The hour that Liberty could tell Its tales abroad, and peans swell, Which now all thrones and kingdoms shake, And to their doom bid tyrants wake ; The hour young Freedom high to Heaven, Held up its hands, and strength was given, And power to run a mighty race, And blast its horns in every tyrants face."
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XII.
" Progress law is here and there - Heaven's law - true every where. Now it rouses all the nations Far to earth's remotest stations. See the dreaming slowly wake, See old kingdoms fearful shake,- Progress grown to manhood stands, With Reformers shaking hands."
" At the doors of tyrants knocking, Sebastopols and pontiff's mocking ; From that day of pilgrim landing, These may date their feebler standing. Now it flies from west to east, Light'ning-like its speed increased ; Monarchs fear - obey they must, Man must rise above the dust."
" Free from dungeon doors and bars, Now it steps aboard the cars, Makes morning calls on nations, Along their scattered stations :- Goes to China and Japan, Tells her story, shows her plan :- So all round the broad creations, Scatters fast her Revelations."
" Onward spreads its westward way, Round the earth its plans to lay ; Speaks of all its deeds at home - Those gone by, and those to come : Deeds the grandest done below, Since it first began to grow. From old nations mummified, Out it came to Freedom guide."
" There it found a place to talk, Place where it unchained could walk ;
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Place where roble souls could dwell ; Place where such developed well ; Place where souls could souls discern ; Place where mind of mind could learn ; Place where Liberty's glad race, Found a lasting resting place."
XIII.
" Be just now and honor the pilgrims of old, Whose fame your best poets so often have told. Let Progress forever for them loose her tongue, And mind that their praises go never unsung. Forever and ever their story should live, And light-flashing-radiance to liberty give ; Through all coming ages should laurels be twined, And round their immortal, dear mem'ries confined."
XIV.
" By centuries now you count the years gone by, Since red men heard the pilgrim mother's sigh ; And when to past eternity have rolled A hundred more, their fame shall still be told. So Progress onward shall forever sound, The tidings to a world in error bound. On Telegraph - on iron ship and rail, The words shall go to make all pontiffs pale. Broad as the sunshine o'er the earth is spread, Shall praises for their benefits be said. Progress is the theme to-day - Onward, upward, strive away, Bear it on a banner high, Bright to beam on every eye."
" "Tis time that heathenism cease to draw, Men's sight, and love, and sense, from truth and law. Let go the Old, and grapple with the New,- "T'is clearer much - much better for you too. Your souls are like rich garments outside in,-
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Show knots and seams, and patchwork spots of sin. Now turn them quickly right side out to light, You'll view them then with pleasure and delight. Young science now protect with watchful care,- Bask in her light, she's made you what you are."
XV.
" He bowed, and ceased to speak, then turned away, And his communications closed. He said he'd more to tell some other day, When I of this had well disposed. They held a council short together then, And soon another spirit came,
Shook hands and spoke with me. He told me when On earth, King Philip was his name. He said the Indian's council fires were gone, And like those fires had they retired."
" The doomed and wronged I've come to talk about ;- Tell why revenge their bosoms fired ; And why for vengeance were their war-whoops heard, And death and devastation spread. The red man trusted in the white man's word ;- He played him false - for this he bled. But here we mingle, undeceived, in love And harmony. No war-cries here Are heard. No knives or battle-axes move Our spirits now to hate or fear."
I know you have, I said, been treated wrong ;- Good faith has not been kept with you. I've read quite often both in prose and song, Your grievances. The tales are true.
"I know," he said, " your friendship for our race ; This led me here to talk with you ; I'm glad to meet you here this time and place, To say a word I think may do. Remembered should the Indian's trials be ;- Your dwelling place was once his own.
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But Progress came and he must fight, and flee, And die, and be to fame unknown. Though sad the story, yet it told should be ;- Though useless let him have his own. Now write my message down as this you hear ! Tell all you wish to, what I say. Two centuries ago I lived quite near The spot you dwell upon to-day."
XVI. " One moment's heed I'd have you give ; One line which may in memory live, Some longer yet of him who fed The pilgrims oft with corn and bread. Great stores of wealth and power you own, In every clime your flag is known. You've mental wealth to sate the mind ;--- You've luxuries of every kind. Great loads of gratitude you've paid, To those who long ago well laid The strong foundations broad on land, Whereon your nation long may stand, And flash her light around the earth, Proclaiming a new era's birth. And may not now a word be said, Of him on whose old graves you tread ? Of him who like your Washington, Did as he did, what could be done ? Of him who shelter gave, and bread, To those who from oppression fled ?
Who once roamed monarch o'er those hills and streams, Enjoyed his freedom and his loves and dreams ? Whose dauntless heart was offered with his hand, And cheerful welcome to his rich wild land ? We saw it wrested from us day by day, And found, full soon, that we must pass away. They called us savage ! said we ought to die ! Though we gave heed and pity to their cry."
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XVII.
" We struggled to regain Our rights - our rights maintain. We never could be slaves, Or go to cowards' graves : But living, would be free ; Or dying - heroes be.
Slave chains we could not bear ;- Fetters we would not wear :-
So the war-whoop loud we sounded,
Over hill and dale it bounded.
Quick the arrow sped its flight ;- On we hastened to the fight."
" Our fathers' graves !- we loved them well ! We fought for home, and fighting fell. No other measures could we try ; We knew that we must fight or dic. Then pity show for our sad fate,- Your censure and your blame abate. We fought th' invaders of our land, But could not long the contest stand. Our doom was fixed,- depart we must, But was that stern commandment just ? Your smiling hills were once our own ; We loved them - and we made it known. Your fathers fought invaders bold ; That story, long and well you've told. The Indian's praise to you may sing, Who taught them how to do the thing. You owe him more than you're aware - He gave you more than he could spare."
" You've got our land and should be just, You can afford it well. Your home (remember that you must, ) Was ours - our place to dwell In peace, and sing our songs, and pray To our Great Sachem Grand,
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Our Spirit Father far away, Who rules the spirit land. The Indian had a soul ! O yes ! Knew how a soul to prize ; Had foes of outrage shown him less, It had been quite as wise. He had a heart and hand to lend, He kept both open wide ; His spirit firm no load could bend, He bowed not - till he died."
" He saw the dark cloud blacken fast, He heard its thunders roll ; He felt its light'nings flash and blast, And burn his very soul. His axe and scalping knife he ground, And strung his trusty bow ; The war-cry up flew swiftly round, And brought the dreadful blow. Was that savage ? was that worse play Than we received from you ?
You burnt and pillaged night and day, With hands as bloody too. The mad'ning sight fired up his rage - His fierce revenge awoke ; Raging to any foe engage, Who could such rage provoke.
Whole-soul resolved to kill his foes, Or drive them from his soil ; He'd gain his freedom by his blows Or die and end the toil.
So stood your fathers when th' oppressors came, And wrapt your dwellings in consuming flame. Great vengeance then each breast thrill'd through and through, And nerved each heart and arm the work to do. ' Freedom or death ' around the welkin sounded, And on from hill to hill the echoes bounded, Round and round the tidings ran, Till up and armed stood every man."
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XVIII.
" You pile great honors on those ' matchless men,' Who met the foe, and fought, and triumphed, when The odds were great, the hours were sad and dark, With not one shot to spare to miss the mark. You sing of those great hero men laid low On battle-grounds, which filled the land with woe. And rock on rock to dizzy heights you raise,
In honor of the dead whose deeds you praise.
Your orators are eloquent and grand,
And ' live or die' your liberty shall stand.
Then condescend one brother-tear to show,
For him who rose, as you rose, long ago,
Bare-breasted to the war-storm's bloody hounds, To drive th' invaders from his hunting grounds. These he would save, Or make his grave, And join the hunters in the spirit land."
" Yes, drop one tear for them, with you no more, They 've gone and left you to their fate deplore. The plow and anvil, rail-road car and loom, Are busy now where we once had the room. The woodman's axe the forest levels down,
And blooming fields the hills and valleys crown,
We, once their lords, in spirit vales find rest, And wait our race's last one from your west."
" Our foot-prints are wearing and vanishing fast, And soon of proud red men you'll plow out the last. Full soon on their last prarie-chase they will go, Nor return from the death of the last buffalo.
Pity the Indian then and forgive,
And let his good deeds with your history live. . Remember your God was his God to adore,
That all men are brothers his presence before."
XIX.
" All trace of him should not be lost to you, Record his deeds and look their meanings through.
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Some good was in him,- bear that good along, Forget his crimes that came of grievous wrong. You have his lands, your plows his graves molest ; He gave you part, and then you took the rest. You boast full loud, you eall your's freedom's home, And bid the exiled from all nations come. But yet the land you make slave hunting grounds, Where men to tear you loose your bloody hounds.
A Nero danced, one day, for Rome afire, Some eighteen hundred years, I think, ago ; And now your wicked Congress laws require, A penalty for those who merey show. Full mournful deeds are these for future times, You 've loads as many quite as we of crimes.
Some millions now stout hands raise up to heaven,
To elutch down vengeance for the hearts you 've riven.
They'll soon lay hold of it and down 't will go, Then stand from under that destructive blow. That sum of all base villainies combined,
Weighs like a mill-stone 'round your necks confined.
Not all unblackballed is your liberty ;
That great ' black spider caneer ' slavery, Roots through each vital part, And cankers round the heart. You might have stood in its bright noon-day blaze,
Full worthy sons of sires of other days.
You've boundless lands, wide-spread from shore to shore,
And boundless eoasts whereon the oceans roar.
The Indian's war-whoop you no longer fear ; No hostile nations dare approach you near.
The prowling night bears harm no more the sheep, No midnight wolves disturb your quiet sleep. Great monuments you have to mark each spot, To mind of deeds you would not have forgot. And eloquent they were of patriots' deeds of fame, But slave hounds nose them and they stand for shame. O this is sick'ning ! let us leave the sight ! It makes your day-time look so much like night.
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That cancer ! O that cancer cut out away, Or else 't will kill ! you'll find that out some day."
XX.
" All gone ! the red man darkens not your doors, No foot-prints show that he once walked your shores. Go mount the pile on yonder hill so high ! Look round upon the water, earth and sky ! Try then and see if you can quite forget, The friendly welcome that your fathers' met, When all defenceless they were driven here, Late in the evening of a dying year. Look off on that ship-dotted bay at hand ! Around which rich and prosperous cities stand ; See sunny vales where radiant waters flow ! See how like magic past the steamers go ! See east and west across the ocean pour Into your lap vast treasures from their store. See wires string like spider-threads the air, Throughout the land, to instant tidings bear, From any place, whatever word you choose, They get and bring and print you off the news. Your costly steamers through all oceans plow, And 'mongst the nations you stand foremost now. Look on all this ! and then forget how much You owe the pilgrim and his friend for such."
XXI.
He ceased to speak, then faded from my sight, In graceful movements through the realms of light. Then came the other with his pleasant smile, And said he'd talk with me a little while. He asked me if I recollected who He was. I told him that I thought I knew. You look like Doctor Cummings ; yet you seem Too young. Say ! is it you ? or has some dream Come over me ? all this seems very queer ; It seems as though I well could see and hear,
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And yet this meeting looks an odd affair, The like of which I've seen not anywhere.
" All right ! I'm just the man you take me for,- I'm younger now than when my flesh you saw.
The spirit ne'er grows old or blind, The body only clogs the mind ; When free from that we're young again, And evermore our youth retain. I thought I'd come for old acquaintance sake, And say a word your poem out to make. Now give an ear to what I say, And write it for your festal day."
XXII.
" I've dear relations who yet dwell with you, I'll pray and preach as I was wont to do ; Though not just like the things I used to tell, They're quite as good, but may not take as well. I used to pray that all might fear the Lord, And look to Heaven for their great reward. But now I pray you cast out fear with love, And know enough to need no faith to move This mountain or the other, liere or there ; No trust in faith is wisdom anywhere. Get wisdom true and wrap your souls about, 'Twill keep them safe beyond all fear or doubt. "Tis Ignorance alone one need to fear, That's all the devil I know there or here. Be not by selfishness forever moved, Be lovable, and surely you'll be loved. The poison weeds of vulgar fame keep clear, They grow in quagmires and by cess-pools near. This popularity 's idle wind Too oft to vacuums rushing deaf and blind. All rabble squalls of dust and thunder shun ; No God is there, and wicked work is done. From their dark night of ignorance and strife, Mankind are merging now from death to life.
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Give me with Truth one hour's communion sweet, 'Tis worth the life-time's joy the thoughtless greet. Keep not the golden calf so in your eye, The worship kills, you lose your souls thereby. As camels through small needle-eyes move slow, So mammon's devotees to heaven must go. That's now the bane of all your hopes and joys, Your mammon worship all your peace destroys. Of Heaven's high mettled horse that leaps the stars, You'd make a dray and harness to your cars. You'd better play familiar with his mane, Much faster so you'd praise and pleasure gain. - For nature says 'heed well the way you go ! Hold fast to me if you would wiser grow ! Hold on your course ! heed well your Maker's will !' If blows come thick and fast and hard, hold still. Ofttimes the good and true must walk aside, And see the shallow dunce to favors ride. But men are pleased with drums and rattles yet, Quite free from leading strings but few can get. When Moses went and left his charge alone, A man-made leader at his station shone. How many now are just required to be By tailors made,- outside enough to see. When will your clothes-philosophy subside, And sense and reason in its stead preside ? Some longer yet you must alone progress, And bear " temptations in the wilderness." But fast, and pray, and work, you know the way, And crowns of thorns are not the worst of pay. Full many clogs and hindrances you find, But waver not ! my council bear in mind ! Where petrified phrenology can live, "Tis time that heaven should some instruction give. Of all the foes that live men have to dread, They are the worst, your cold unburied dead. Ofttimes the lieart must bear afflictive blows, Before its God-made destiny it knows.
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Great moral courage now your course requires, The world a cross for Saviours still desires. Take heed that wickedness don't all employ, And Goth and Hun come down and all destroy. That cloudy embrio state you worry through, You make too noisy and too stormy too. The lights and shades appear too glaringly,- Your thunders rattle in too high a key. It should not be so far from up to down, God loves the king no better than the clown. Look not ' Defenders of the Faith ' up to, Go right to God and learn there what to do. Go cleanse the outer man of its disease, Then Reason's dictates will the inner please. Religion comes as easy as your breath, When free from physical and moral death. Your world in spasms rolls its eyes about, And old Theology can't help it out. Much ' peace on earth ' as yet it fails to bring, . It ne'er had sense enough to do that thing. Its past dark history three words will tell, - Just three familiar words, 'Cain killed Abel.' "
XXIII.
" I pray you now be good and wise,- All wise to know where duty lies. Wise enough to make you free, From all that brings adversity. Free from all tyrants great and small,
From slavery the worst of all. Of infidelity keep clear :- No bigot's traps go near ; No soul-crush creeds abide, But aye in Love and Truth confide."
" Fear naught but ignorance and sin, No other things will harm ; Watch all their movements out and in, And all their guards disarm.
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A subtler snare than kings can lay, Is lurking by your side ; The Pontiff's minion's work their way Around you far and wide."
XXIV.
Beware of bigots for they crush and kill, Just give them leave to act their way and will. The rack, the stake and faggots don't forget, Keep watch and ward, there's some life in them yet. Nor let a craft that works by stealth mole-blind, Warp its death hampers round the mind. Unfettered walk upon your pleasant hills, And live more god-like as your maker wills. That when two centuries more have passed away, There may be some good things of you to say. For what you leave behind your children look, But what you send before is all we book. Wash clean your freedom of its crocks and scars, Raise not so many clouds to dim your stars. There's work gigantic for your age to do, To raise men up to their position true ; Where men by men may hence be seen and known, And " work be worship " and each find his own. That useful school, built up by Doctor Howe, Make that the place to learn this lesson now. Let there the cry be heard, more light ! more light ! To find the way where all may walk upright. Then revelations grand you'll hear and see, And be but little less than angels free. More Liberty and Law will then be known, The " Higher Law " which gives to each his own. The Light of learning then around will shine, Where now its Darkness looks to you Divine. Then Temperance and Truth and Law will lead, To industry and wealth for every need. Then woman will her place and rights obtain, And all more truth and light from Heaven will gain.
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Then wisdom's ways will have the reverence, That now all goes to shillings and to pence. (Your dollar and your cent philosophy, Makes hate and hell where should be harmony.) Let each himself, and God aright discern, Then right, forever, each may teach and learn. Then " Love ye one another" 'll be your creed, And bring you joys from Heaven, all you need. Then peace and love will make a happy life, And banish from the earth its foolish strife. Then men will cease to cheat their souls of all True wealth, and down, down, down forever fall. Then each his neighbor will refuse to pain, But each give heaven,- and each his own obtain. ' My people don't consider what they do !' No truer words e'er mortal lips came through. It seems to you as though a God unjust, Made all things wrong, and so go wrong they must. But why be always looking BACK for light ? From low to high is law - all good and right. Then look ahead ! what is the ark to thee ? Or Pharaoh and his hosts in that red sea ? All Eden gardens are this side of you, As you would SEE upon a close FRONT view, Where all is turmoil like a miser's soul, Where dark, dead seas o'er burried Sodoms roll Where crushed humanity all bloody lies, Let no " Madonna-winking " fix your eyes.
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