Suggestive programs for special day exercises/Our Nations Birthday/Praise of Freedom
THE POETS’ PRAISE OF FREEDOM.
When Freedom on her natal day
Within her war-rocked cradle lay,
An iron race around her stood,
Baptized her infant born in blood;
And through the storm which round her swept
Their constant ward and watching kept.
Thy spirit. Independence, let me share;
Lord of the lion heart and eagle eye,
Thy steps I follow with my bosom bare.
Nor heed the storm that howls along the sky.
Freedom has a thousand charms to show,
That slaves, howe’er contented, never know.
The torch of freedom God has lit
Burns upward for the Infinite,
And through all hindrances it will
And must and shall burn upward still,
The love of liberty with life is given,
And life itself the inferior gift of heaven.
Freedom's battle once begun
Bequeathed by bleeding sire to son,
Though baffled oft is ever won.
Since first I heard our north wind blow,
Since first I saw Atlantic throw
On our fierce rocks his thunderous snow,
I loved thee, Freedom.
Give me again my hollow tree,
A crust of bread, and liberty!
My angel—his name is Freedom—
Choose him to be your king;
He shall cut pathways east and west,
And ’tend you with his wing.
Is true freedom but to break
Fetters for our own dear sake.
And, with leathern hearts, forget
That we owe mankind a debt?
No!—true freedom is to share
All the chains our brother wear,
And with heart and hand to be
Earnest to make others free!
(Note—This should be arranged as a class exercise, each pupil who takes part naming the author from whom he quotes.)