December Twenty-Eighth
In the future some historian shall come forth both strong and wise,
With a love of the Republic, and the truth, before his eyes.
He will show the subtle causes of the war between the States,
He will go back in his studies far beyond our modern dates,
He will trace our hostile ideas as the miner does the lodes,
He will show the different habits born of different social codes,
He will show the Union riven, and the picture will deplore,
He will show it re-united and made stronger than before.
James Barron Hope
December Twenty-Ninth
Slow and patient, fair and truthful must the coming teacher be
To show how the knife was sharpened that was ground to prune the tree.
He will hold the Scales of Justice, he will measure praise and blame,
And the South will stand the verdict, and will stand it without shame.
James Barron Hope
Texas admitted to the Union, 1845
December Thirtieth
I changed my name when I got free
To “Mister” like the res’,
But now dat I am going Home,
I likes de ol’ name bes’.
Sweet voices callin’ “Uncle Rome”
Seem ringin’ in my ears;
An’ swearin’ sorter sociable,—
Ol’ Master’s voice I hears.
······
He’s passed Heaven’s River now, an’ soon
He’ll call across its foam:
“You, Rome, you damn ol’ nigger,
Loose your boat an’ come on Home!”
Howard Weeden