The Nashville Daily Union

Nashville Union
WM. CAMERON & CO., Publishers.

From Harper's Magazine.

Northward.

Under the high upclouded sun
That makes the ship and shadow one
I sail away as from the fort
Booms sullenly the noonday gun.

The odorous airs blow thin and fine,
The sparkling waves like emeralds shine,
The lustre of the coral reefs
Gleams whitely through the trepid brine.

And glittering o'er the liquid miles
The jeweled ring of verdant isle,
Where generous Nature holds her court
Of ripened bloom and sunny smiles.

Incinctured by the faithful seas
Inviolate gardens hold the breeze,
Where flaunt, like giant wardens' plumes
The pennants of the cocoanut trees.

Enthroned in light and bathed in balm,
In lonely majesty, the palm!

I steer my course and leave behind
Blessed the isles with waving hands-
The rapture of the Southern skies,
The wooing of the Southern wind.

For here o'er Nature's wanton bloom
Falls far and near the shade of gloom.
Cast from the hovering vulture-wings,
Of one dark thought of woe and doom

I know that in the snow-white pines
The brave Norse fire of freedom shines,
Why read ye not the changeless truth-
The free can conquer but to save?

May God upon these shining sands
Send Love and Victory clasping hands,
And Freedom's banners wave in peace
Forever o'er the rescued lands.

And here in that triumphant hour
Shall yielding Beauty wed with Power;
And blushing earth and smiling sea
In dalliance deck the bridal bower.