Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Address of the fallen Liberty Pole at Nottingham to the Gentlemen who raised it.

O LONG had I in the forest stood
The fairest tree among the wood,
And should have flourish'd, stately, tall,
Till felling time had doom'd my fall,
Had not contention dire arose,
And friends and brethren, chang'd to foes,
With fatal ax destroy'd my life--
And rear'd me up--the sign of strife.--
For ten long years the storms assail,
But driving winds could not prevail :--
Still firm I stood--tho' often brav'd--
And at the last saw FREEDOM SAV'D.
The prize secur'd, for which I rose,
My country rescu'd from her foes---
Worn out with age, my nature spent,
By piercing winds, I downward went,
And gently fell --met mother earth,
From whom at first I drew my birth.--
My noble Patrons ! Friends most dear,
Drop o'er my stump the gen'rous tear :
Twas I bid emulation glow,
And caus'd fair freedom's praise to flow.
Ungrateful you--should you neglect
To treat my stump with due respect,
The time will come decreed by fate,
Oh Heav'n grant, that hour be late,
When you yourselves must droop and fade,
And in the silent grave be laid ;
When all your services and fame
Shall be forgot. and lost your name.
Such fate attends the great and good,
Such the reward for toil and blood.