OUR COUNTRY'S CALL.

3

As terrible as when the rains

Have swelled them over bank and bourne,
With sudden floods to drown the plains
And sweep along the woods uptorn.

And ye who throng, beside the deep,
Her ports and hamlets of the strand,
In number like the waves that leap

On his long murmuring marge of sand,
Come, like that deep, when, o'er his brim,
He rises, all his floods to pour,
And flings the proudest barks that swim,
A-helpless wreck against his shore.

Few, few were they whose swords, of old,
Won the fair land in which we dwell;

But we are many, we who hold

The grim resolve to guard it well.
Strike for that broad and goodly land,
Blow after blow, till men shall see
That Might and Right move hand in hand,
And glorious must their triumph be.

THE GREAT BELL ROLAND.

THE GREAT BELL ROLAND.*

SUGGESTED BY THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.

BY THEODORE TILTON.

I.

TOLL! Roland, toll!

In old St. Bavon's tower,

At midnight hour,

The great Bell Roland spoke!

All souls that slept in Ghent awoke!
What meant the thunder stroke?
Why trembled wife and maid?
Why caught each man his blade?
Why echoed every street
With tramp of thronging feet?
All flying to the city's wall!

It was the warning call

That Freedom stood in peril of a foe!
And even timid hearts grew bold

Whenever Roland tolled,

And every hand a sword could hold!

So acted men

The famous bell Roland, of Ghent, was an object of great affection to the people, because it rang to arm them when Lib. erty was in danger.

THE GREAT BELL ROLAND.

-

Like patriots then Three hundred years ago!

II.

Toll! Roland, toll!

Bell never yet was hung,
Between whose lips there swung
So grand a tongue!

If men be patriots still,
At thy first sound

True hearts will bound,

Great souls will thrill!

Then toll and strike the test
Through each man's breast,

Till loyal hearts shall stand confest, And may God's wrath smite all the rest!

III.

Toll! Roland, toll!

Not now in old St. Bavon's tower

Not now at midnight hour

5

Not now from River Scheldt to Zuyder Zee,

But here, this side the sea!

Toll here, in broad, bright day! —

For not by night awaits

A noble foe without the gates,

But perjured friends within betray,

THE GREAT BELL ROLAND.

And do the deed at noon!

Toll! Roland, toll!

Thy sound is not too soon!

To Arms! Ring out the Leader's call!
Reecho it from East to West

Till every hero's breast

Shall swell beneath a soldier's crest!
Toll! Roland, toll!

Till cottager from cottage wall

Snatch pouch and powder-horn and gun! The sire bequeathed them to the son When only half their work was done! Toll! Roland, toll!

Till swords from scabbards leap!

Toll! Roland, toll!

What tears can widows weep

Less bitter than when brave men fall!

Toll! Roland, toll!

In shadowed hut and hall

Shall lie the soldier's pall,

[filled!

And hearts shall break while graves are

Amen! So God hath willed!

And may His grace anoint us all!

IV.

Toll! Roland, toll!

The Dragon on thy tower

Stands sentry to this hour,

7

THE GREAT BELL ROLAND.

And Freedom so stands safe in Ghent !
And merrier bells now ring,

And in the land's serene content
Men shout "God save the King!"
Until the skies are rent!

So let it be !

A kingly king is he

Who keeps his people free!

Toll! Roland, toll!

Ring out across the sea!

No longer They but We

Have now such need of thee!

Toll! Roland, toll!

Nor ever may thy throat

Keep dumb its warning note

Till Freedom's perils be outbraved!
Toll! Roland, toll!

Till Freedom's flag, wherever waved,
Shall shadow not a man enslaved !
Toll! Roland, toll!

From Northern lake to Southern strand!
Toll! Roland, toll!

Till friend and foe, at thy command,
Once more shall clasp each other's hand,
And shout, one-voiced, "God save the land!
And love the land that God hath saved!
Toll! Roland, toll!

April 16, 1861.