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Watch and guard his hours of rest
Hide him from the searcher's quest.
Through the city wrapped in sleep,
O'er the river broad and deep;
By the farmstead, through the vale
Lighted by the moonbeams pale:
O'er the prarie wild and wide,
Where the red men still abide;
Hunters these, but not of slaves
Far more merciful than they;
Storms and tempests, winds and waves,
Nought, the fugitive must stay.
Pass him on!
Pass him on! Pass him on!
Crime hath he committed none:
Would you have him grovelling lie
In the bonds of Slavery?
Nobler for to rend in twain
And throw off the yoke and chain;
Nobler through darkness grim,
Dangers thick besetting him.
Freedom thus to seek in flight,
'Scaping from the gloom of night
Unto freedom's glorious morn:
From the darkness to the dawn
Leapeth he o'er chasms wide;
Help him all who help him can,
God the north star for his guide
Giveth; every fellow man—
Pass him on!
Rochester, England, 1854. H. G. Adams.
