Thou hast fixed our ark of refuge where the spoiler's foot ne'er

trod;

For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers' God.

We are watchers of a beacon whose light must never die;
We are guardians of an altar 'midst the silence of the sky;
The rocks yield founts of courage, struck forth as by thy rod;
For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers'
God.

For the dark-resounding caverns, where Thy still, small voice is

heard;

For the strong pines of the forests, that by Thy breath are stirred;

For the storms, on whose free pinions thy spirit walks abroad; For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers' God.

The royal eagle darteth on his quarry from the heights,

And the stag that knows no master seeks there his wild de

lights;

But we for Thy communion have sought the mountain sod;
For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers'
God.

The banner of the chieftain far, far below us waves;

The war-horse of the spearman cannot reach our lofty caves; The dark clouds wrap the threshold of Freedom's last abode; For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers' God.

For the shadow of Thy presence, round our camp of rock outspread;

For the stern defiles of battle, bearing record of our dead;
For the snows, and for the torrents, for the free heart's burial

sod;

For the strength of the hills we bless Thee, our God, our fathers'

God.

FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS.

UNION AND LIBERTY.

FLAG of the heroes who left us their glory,

Borne through their battle-fields' thunder and flame,
Blazoned in song and illumined in glory,
Wave o'er us all who inherit their fame.
Chorus.-Up with our banner bright,

Sprinkled with starry light,

Spread its fair emblems from mountain to shore,
While through the sounding sky

Loud rings the nation's cry,

Union and Liberty, one evermore!

Light of our firmament, guide of our nation,
Pride of her children, and honored afar,
Let the wide beams of thy full constellation
Scatter each cloud that would darken a star.
Chorus.

Empire unsceptred, what foe shall assail thee,
Bearing the standard of Liberty's van?
Think not the God of thy fathers shall fail thee,
Striving with men for the birthright of man.

Chorus.

Yet if, by madness and treachery blighted,

Dawns the dark hour when the sword thou must draw,

Then with the arms to thy millions united,

Smite the bold traitors to Freedom and Law.

Chorus.

Lord of the Universe, shield us and guide us,

Trusting Thee always, through shadow and sun.

Thou hast united us, who shall divide us?

Keep us, oh, keep us the MANY IN ONE.

Chorus.

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.

POLISH WAR-SONG.

FREEDOM calls you! Quick, be ready!
Rouse ye, in the name of God!
Onward, onward, strong and steady,
Dash to earth the oppressor's rod!
Freedom calls! ye brave! ye brave!
Rise, and spurn the name of slave.

Grasp the sword! its edge is keen;
Seize the gun! its ball is true:
Sweep your land from tyrant clean,

Haste, and scour it through and through!
Onward! onward! Freedom cries.
Rush to arms, the tyrant flies.

By the souls of patriots gone,
Wake, arise, your fetters break!
Kosciusko bids you on,

Sobieski cries, Awake!

Rise, and front the despot czar,
Rise, and dare the unequal war.

Freedom calls you! Quick, be ready!
Think of what your sires have been.
Onward, onward! strong and steady,
Drive the tyrant to his den.

On, and let the watchword be,
Country, home, and liberty!

JAMES GATES PERCIVAL.

BRUCE AND THE SPIDER.

FOR Scotland's and for freedom's right
The Bruce his part had played,
In five successive fields of fight
Been conquered and dismayed.
Once more against the English host
His band he led, and once more lost

The meed for which he fought;

And now, from battle, faint and worn,
The homeless fugitive forlorn

A hut's lone shelter sought.

And cheerless was that resting-place
For him who claimed a throne;
His canopy, devoid of grace,

The rude, rough beams alone;
The heather couch his only bed,—
Yet well I ween had slumber fled
From couch of eider-down:
Through darksome night till dawn of day,
Absorbed in wakeful thought he lay
Of Scotland and her crown.

The sun rose brightly, and its gleam.
Fell on that hapless bed,

And tinged with light each shapeless beam
Which roofed the lowly shed;

When, looking up with wistful eye,
The Bruce beheld a spider try

His filmy thread to fling

From beam to beam of that rude cot;
And well the insect's toilsome lot
Taught Scotland's future king.

Six times his gossamery thread
The wary spider threw;
In vain the filmy line was sped,

For powerless or untrue

Each aim appeared, and back recoiled
The patient insect, six times foiled,

And yet unconquered still;

And soon the Bruce, with eager eye,
Saw him prepare once more to try
His courage, strength, and skill.

One effort more, his seventh and last;
The hero hailed the sign,

And on the wished-for beam hung fast
That slender, silken line;

Slight as it was, his spirit caught
The more than omen, for his thought
The lesson well could trace,

Which even "he who runs may read,”
That Perseverance gains its meed,

And Patience wins the race.

BERNARD BARTON.

UNION SONG OF THE CELT.

HAIL! brightest banner that floats on the gale!
Flag of the country of Washington, hail!
Red are thy stripes with the blood of the brave,
Bright are thy stars as the sun on the wave;
Wrapt in thy folds are the hopes of the free.
Banner of Washington! blessings on thee!

Mountain-tops mingle the sky with their snow;
Prairies lie smiling in sunshine below;
Rivers, as broad as the sea, in their pride,
Border thine empires, but do not divide;
Niagara's voice far out-anthems the sea;
Land of sublimity! blessings on thee!

Hope of the world! on thy mission sublime,
When thou didst burst on the pathway of time,
Millions from darkness and bondage awoke;
Music was first born when liberty spoke;
Millions to come shall yet join in the glee:
Land of the pilgrims' hope! blessings on thee!

Traitors shall perish, and treason shall fail;
Kingdoms and thrones in thy glory grow pale!
Thou shalt live on, and thy people shall own
Loyalty's sweet, when each heart is thy throne;
Union and freedom thine heritage be.

Country of Washington! blessings on thee!

WILLIAM E. ROBINSON.