And the Negro's only bands

Love-knit hearts, and love-link'd hands.

So the plague of slavery cease!
So return primeval peace!
While the ransom'd tribes record
All the goodness of the LORD.

No. V.

THE NEGRO'S VIGIL:

ON THE EVE OF THE FIRST OF AUGUST, 1834.

"They that watch for the morning:- they that watch for the morning." Psalm cxxx. 6.

HIE to the mountain afar

All in the cool of the even;

Led by yon beautiful star,

First of the daughters of heaven:

Sweet to the slave is the season of rest,

Something far sweeter he looks for to-night;

His heart lies awake in the depth of his breast, And listens till GOD shall say, "Let there be light!"

Climb we the mountain, and stand

High in mid-air, to inhale,
Fresh from our old father-land,

Balm in the ocean-borne gale :

Darkness yet covers the face of the deep;
Spirit of freedom! go forth in thy might,

To break up our bondage like infancy's sleep,
The moment when GOD shall say, "Let there be
light!"

Gaze we, meanwhile, from this peak ;
Praying in thought while we gaze;
Watch for the morning's first streak,

Prayer then be turn'd into praise :
Shout to the valleys, "Behold ye the morn,
Long, long desired but denied to our sight:"
Lo, myriads of slaves into men are new-born;
The word was omnipotent, "Let there be light!"

Hear it and hail it;-the call,
Island to island prolong;
Liberty! liberty!—all

Join in the jubilee-song:

Hark! 'tis the children's hosannas that ring;
Hark! they are free-men whose voices unite;
While England, the Indies, and Africa sing,
“AMEN, HALLELUJAH!" at " Let there be light!"

VERSES

ΤΟ

THE MEMORY

OF

THE LATE RICHARD REYNOLDS,

OF BRISTOL.