BEFORE THE REBELLION.

AN ALLEGORY.

A SORT OF MYTHOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE AND ORIGIN OF THE WAR, WHEREIN THE AUTHOR TAKES A FEW NECESSARY LIBERTIES WITH THE GODS OF THE PAST AND THE PRESENT AGE, IN ORDER TO SET FORTH CERTAIN HISTORICAL PROBABILITIES IN AN ALLEGORICAL MANNER, THEREBY ELEVATING THE SUBJECT, AND NICELY AVOIDING THE POSSIBILITY OF GIVING OFFENCE TO THE READER, NO MATTER WHAT PARTICULAR POLITICAL OR GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION HE MAY CHANCE TO OCCUPY.

ONCE Mars and Peace together met,
Resolved to have a friendly word,
I listened well, therefore I am

Prepared to tell all I then heard;
Where this took place I need not pause
With much precision here to state;
Nor for my purpose need I halt,
Here to set down the exact date.

Suffice to know, that such a thing,
Upon this sphere of strife and sin,
By the mere course of strange events,
Once might, could, would, or should have been.
Old Mars with bombast was quite full,
While Peace was very meek and mild,

He really seem'd the god of war,

And she, but Intellect's bright child.

"Well, Peace," said Mars, "I trust that you
Enjoy, as yet, the best of health;

What think you now of this great world,
With all its splendor, fame and wealth?
I'm sure you must be pleased with all,
Which differs much from days of yore,
'When you contended that you could

For mankind do, more than could war."

"Nay, Mars," said Peace, “I don't agree With all that you are pleased to say; The world is better'd, I admit,

But not by you-don't frown, I pray, For I contention much despise,

And do but wish by argument

To prove that you have claimed too much, And what I say is all well meant."

"Hey-day-Miss Peace, I think that you
Are getting rather pert of late,
You seem to hope to smile me down
And controvert thus all I state :
A pretty pass has come indeed,

When you presume thus to deny
That I have made the world by war,

And raised the human standard high!'

"You may be right," said Peace; "yet stay,
If we could now the matter test,
You'd find yourself quite in the wrong-
That all such good is my conquest;
You'd find that man, though valiant yet,
And loves to have his own way still,
Would rather lay aside the sword,

And win his triumphs with a quill!"

"Tut-tut!-you know not what you say,
Or if you do you know you boast,
I do not wish to kill you, Peace,
But still, I'd like to see your ghost !
Why, child, I have now in this world,

A tribe of men both strong and brave,
Who any hour would leave a feast,

That they might fill a hero's grave!”

“Indeed!” said Peace;" If this be true Then all my labor is in vain :

I hope 'tis not!"-she clasp'd her hands,

And dropp'd her eyes, and sighed with pain : Then starting from her musing mood,

She even Mars seemed to defy,

And said :-" Where are those braves you name, Who thus for fame so wish to die?

"What ho! ye gods,-just hear her words,
She even doubts me, as I live!"
Said Mars, as with a fierce, grim smile,
He bade her then attention give;
"'Tis situate' in the far west,

Between two oceans wide and deep,
North bounded by a chain of lakes,

While its South shores a gulf doth sweep."

"Indeed, you much mistaken are,

Or I mistaken much must be!"
Said Peace, "for in that land abides
My fairest child-sweet Liberty :

The tribe of whom you speak, dear sir,
To warlike things are not inclined;
They deal in cotton, grain and gold,
And are at peace with all mankind!"

"Hold there, Miss Peace," said frowning Mars,
"Do you pretend to say that I
Am fool enough to misjudge men,
Or sneak enough to tell a lie ?
Oh! swords and pistols, blood and strife,
But things have reached a pretty pass,
When deeds of arms are set at naught,
And Mars sent like a calf to grass!"

"Oh! sir, pray do not anger'd be,
Your majesty I'd not offend;
Be kind enough to stay your rage,

And hear me out, e'en to the end:
You say this tribe is brave and strong,
Which I'd not willingly deny;

But still they love me far to well,
To seek for fame, and for it die!”

"Oh! thunder, wake!—where is thy roar? Oh! light'ning, where is now thy flash? That ye lie silent and concealed,

While Peace presumes to talk such trash? By all the blood that's wet the ground Since valiant Cain his brother slew, I'll make it now my aim to prove

Your statement false, and my words true!”

"Nay-nay," said Peace; "be not so fast,
For you must know I've power too;
I've built my temple there so strong,
That 'twill resist all you can do!
Commercial interest is the hinge,—
Financial trust, the lock and key,-
Which bolts the door of social good,
Where dwells my child, sweet Liberty!"

"It matters not, your bolts and bars
Against my strength will not avail,
For I will send no forign foe

This time your stronghold to assail ; But in your house, so firmly built,

I'll cast a shell of discontent,

I'll wield the sword of fierce discord,

Till ev'ry social tie is rent!