In Divers Tones

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Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
To My Friend, EDMUND COLLINS.
In divers tones I sing, And pray you, Friend, give ear! My medley of song I bring You, who can rightly hear.
Themes gathered far and near, Thoughts from my heart that spring, In divers tones I sing, And pray you. Friend, give ear!
Here's many a serious thing— You'll know if it's sincere. Where the light laughters ring You may detect a tear. In divers tones I sing, And pray you, Friend, give ear!
LIBERTY. (From the French of Fréchette)
BIRCH AND PADDLE. (To BLISS CARMAN.)
To S—— M——
Father of nations! Help of the feeble hand! Strength of the strong! to whom the nations kneel! Stay and destroyer, at whose just command Earth's kingdoms tremble and her empires reel! Who dost the low uplift, the small make great, And dost abase the ignorantly proud, Of our scant people mould a mighty state, To the strong, stern,—to Thee in meekness bowed! Father of unity, make this people one! Weld, interfuse them in the patriot's flame,— Whose forging on thine anvil was begun In blood late shed to purge the common shame; That so our hearts, the fever of faction done, Banish old feud in our young nation's name.
O Child of Nations, giant-limbed, Who stand'st among the nations now Unheeded, unadored, unhymned, With unanointed brow,—
How long the ignoble sloth, how long The trust in greatness not thine own? Surely the lion's brood is strong To front the world alone!