jPS 1054 |.fl72 W3 1 1868 Copy 1 THE WARNING, OR, THE RIRTH, Y0UT;H, MANHOOD, AND DANGER OF THE NATION, A POEM, BY D. ^YRES. Annus mirabilis. I^irioo lO CJonts. Sample Copies sent on ^eceipl o/'^rlce. A. Hbei^al discount to Clubs or the Trade. ROCHESTER, N.Y.^.N DAILY DEMOCRAT STEAM PRINTING HOI H0U^2 BUFFALO ST. 1868. \ V "-T /^i\ THE WARNING ; OR, THE BIRTH, YOUTH, MANHOOD, AND DANGER OF THE NATION, A POEM ; BY D. A-YRES. Annus mirahilis. r»27loo - - - ■ xo c::Jo3:xt^- Sampte Copies sent on 'Receipt of ^rice. ci liberal discount to Clubs or the Trade, / O ROCHESTER, N. Y.: DAILY DEMOCRAT STEAM PRINTING HOUSE, 62 BUFFALO STi 1868. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 18G8, by D. AYRES, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District of New York. • NTRODUCTION. Tt is not often that I feel Such feelings o'er my senses steal, I can't command, much less explain ; To drive them hence, I've tried in vain — I half suspect, it is because T disobey Great Nature's laws. My trouble is, how shall I make My bow, so that with all 'twill take — I've studied hard Lord Chesterfield, He doth no satisfaction yield. Before a mirror, then I tried ; But yet I was not satisfied — By some one / had understood, To make a bow, and make it good. That you must practice in the dark! (Let me digress, with this remark, It is not always the best way. To mind what other people say.) So, like a dunce, I at it went. And when my strength was nearly spent, I heard a laugh just at my door, Which nearly raised me from the floor ! Says /, " How you did frighten me," Says he, " What can the matter be." I told him all, — asked him to say, Which he believed was the best way. He said, that if I tried to please Miss Jennie Mudge and Julia Pease, That David Dodge and William Jay, Would not at all admire my way. And Mr. Gough, and Mrs. Hough, Of such loiv trash would have enough! To make a book that will be read; Is not so hard as some have said. Your aim should be yowrse^/" to please; And then you'll write with greater ease. For men of sense always admire An Author that builds his oivn fire. I acted on the hint. And now, my friend, Already xjou may comprehend, Why some vagaries are found Within this little volume bound. But, if with care, you'll read it through, I hope 'twill cause you to renew Yonr vows to Freedom, God, and Right—- So now my friends, good day, good night. p IRTH. Two Imndred two score years and Seven, have come and gone ; Since in old Plymoutla Bay, One cold December's day, A puny vessel lay. For three long months it struggled With the boisterous deep ; Oft times it seemed as though Old ocean's bed would be its grave ; For 'neath some giant wave, Long time it would be lost ! Once more, emerging, tossed On some fierce breaker wild. To human mind, it seemed As if its desthiy were sealed ! But He, who holds the world within I The hollow of His hand. And doth the storm control. More readily^ than doth the fierce Tornado, move the dowmy Thistle blow, j From out its fleecy bed : — . , 1 Was watching with an interest, \ Deeper far, than mortal man Can feel, or comprehend. Those noble souls, within the Mayflower Gathered. Who left their native land, To seek, on Columbia's shore. Or in her native wilds, FKEEDOM. Freedom to thiiik^ To ad^ to worship God, As best their judgment should approve. Or conscience dictate. And from this band of Pilgrims lorn Who, when all told, did scarce exceed One hundred souls, there should Arise a Nation mightier far Than European lands can boast, Or Asia's sun e'er shone upon. Their Iiardsliips, toils, their Sufferings, privations, prosperity And growth, 'tis needless to relate. They form ^apart, and parcel Of our country's history. And to their memory are, A monument^ more noble, far, Than all the granite thrones That Kings have raised, and with The choicest gems adorned. And shows the love of Freedom Heigns in man, supreme^ And e'en o'er death itself doth triumph. Youth. AVliat wonder then, when they Had larger grown, in earnest zeal, To make Religious Freedom sure And permanent, that they^ Unvjittingly should make And sanction laws, Wliich, should oppressive prove, Somewhat infringe, upon those Yery Rights, they Avould protect ; And, wdiich, in after years, Their judgment did condemn, And since have modified. And made them correspond With principles, they held so dear. But what avail such little faults Less of the heart than Jiead, When old N'ew England's Granite rocks, Which rear their lofty forms, Towards Heaven's gates, perpetual Wear, which fane can ne'er efface That glorious word, tJtat word Which thrilled the soul and J^erved the arm of Standish, Bradford, Brewster, and a 6 Host of other names, Feeedom, Freedom for all manhind. And tlie thousand rills. That gurgle from her hills, With siren motes proclaim. In Music, sweet the name Of Liberty for all mankind. It was the first^ the last^ The great foundation stone^ On which they reared their Infant colony. Hence, with a jealous eye. With vigilance, they watched and guarded strict. Each avenue of approach. And little dreamed ; That 'neath a Southern sun, in old Virginia's soil, The Upas tree was planted ! which would grow. And spread its branches, far and wide. Until, in its insidious way, it would infuse, Its poisonous breath into the Tree, That Liberty had planted ! And threaten to overwhelm, and utterly destroy it ; And, on its ruin rear a government, Despotic, tyrannivial and base. And has for its support and co^vi^r-stone, That nefarious term, American Slavery. Alas, it was too true ! If you will patient be, And read awhile, you'll see How by slow degrees, this monster did His coils entwine around the Nation's heart. The youth, not yet full grown. His love retained for parents and for kindred dear, Strengthened by absence long. And rendered doubly dear, Sy sacrifices great, privations, hardships, Sufferings untold. Which words hwi faintly tell, feebly ex2)re3S And which, when in his father-land, He never knew. How strange ! how wondrous strange ! That Parents could be so far lost I To all tlieir natural ties, which bind the parent to the cliikl, That they should jealous prove, And, instead of words of sympathy, and love, and joy. That such heroic efforts. By her own children made,. should with success be crowned. They sought by threats^ by taxes ^ illegal^ unjust^ cruel, icroiuj^ By every means to which they dared resort. To obstruct, to hinder, or delay The onward progress of the ambitious youth ! But each fresh act, of deep injustice,. Made the wound but deeper still. And added fuel to ilia fires which burned within the breast. Of their much abused and persecuted child ; And needed but a breath to fan it to a flame. The climax soon was reached ! The cup of infamy was full ! The pent up flames burst forth, from Massachusett's Bay, To Carolina's shore, the fires of Freedom burned. Xow ye, who at a Higher power do sneer, Note the result ; when Truth with Error meets, "When Right with Wrong, Justice with Tyranny contends. Behold this band of valiant hearts. In numbers ,/