The Norfolk Post

LETTER AND SONNETS OF M. F. TUPPER.
The last arrival from England brought the following.--Evening Post.

ENGLAND, November 14, 1865.
"Dear Sir: The last proclamation of your President, sublime in its simple piety, touches me deeply, and I request the insertion in your paper of the following sonnets, just written, whereby my many friends among you may see how truly I am still, as heretofore, America's well-wisher, and theirs and yours,
"MARTIN F. TUPPER.

A WORD TO COLUMBIA: DECEMBER 7, 1865.
Mercy and Truth have proved our prophets wrong
pity.
Thy glories are not labeled Ichabod:
A stricken people turning to their God
With penitential prayer and praiseful song,
Bowing before the Father's chastening rod,
Forgiving as they trust to be forgiven
Ev'n to the uttermost seventy times seven
A nation, great in faith, and suffering long,
And through fierce trial only grown more strong,
Must win the heritages of Earth and Heaven:
Yea, purified as in a martyr's fire,
Thy sin burnt out, Columbia, we behold
In noble state
In hope thine eagle soaring as of old,
Excelsior, a phoenix higher and higher.
M.V.T.

II.
A WORD FOR ENGLAND: NOVEMBER 14, 1865.
Nobly, self-sacrificing, England went
Along the steep of duty's difficult path,
Blameless, despite of much unreasoning wrath
Because from the unnatural tournament
She stood aloof in sorrow, diligent
Only to cure the fratricidal feud.
When interest whispered, she refused to hear,
Choosing the loss with high-toned rectitude,
And striving all for peace, simply sincere;
And if from her free ports in cunning skill
Your own marauders managed to elude
Our slow but well meant care and worked you ill,
How came it your great navy failed in force
To sweep those pirates from the merchant's course?
M. V. T.