Before Dawn

September the Fourteenth
——
[For the Transcript]

Bells of night, why do ye toll?
’T is the passing of a soul.

Stars of morn, how pale ye shine,
Ushering out a life benign;
This the hour when heaven’s door
Opens wide—ah, twice before—
To enrich the martyr band
With the life-blood of our land.

Trinal souls, beyond us all,
How ye soar, nor fear nor fall!
Free from blind and frenzied foe,
Safe from touch of fiendish blow;
Franchised in that realm above,
Love its law—for God is love.
Still they toll, the direful bells,
Hopeless, mournful, tireless knells!

O thou Man of Galilee,
Who couldst set wild devils free,
Turn them from our native shore,
That they haunt our peace no more,
Cast them out of human breast,
Cleanse America distressed!

While the depths of life are stirred,
Let the people’s prayer be heard;
All the savage outlaws heal,
Till before thy cross they kneel.
Great Physician, O restore
Health to our land from shore to shore!

Bells of night, how sad ye toll,
Ringing for the passing soul!