Travis.
[Trembling with joy]
The—Independence—of the—State—of Texas?
Dickinson.
Pronounced by the Convention on the second.
Travis.
So hurry, Dickinson, that I may hear
The joyous tidings from the men's own lips.
Almighty Lord in Heaven above, Thou hast
Received and heard my bosom's crying voice
Beyond what e'en my fondest wish conceived.
I begged one ray,—Thou givest me a sun;
I craved one hope,—Thou sheddest o'er my soul
A wealth of radiant assurances;
I prayed, that not quite useless were my death,
And lo! Thou crown'st my latest hours on earth
With heavenly light, with glory as of Eden!
Though parting from this world I leave behind
Friends in distress, related souls in grief,
I know that Thou, oh. Lord, wilt turn all things
Unto their best, and hence I sorrow not!
Oh! could the wavering sceptic who disputes
God's lordly power,—oh! could the atheist,
Proud in his self-assuming creed, be here,—
Upon their knees they reverently would sink,
