PS 1124 
 •B24 V5 
 1893 
 Copy 1 
 
 VIGILANCE 
 
 A POEM. 
 
 BORN; FIRST WRITTEN! 
 
 7N THE YEAR iSga, THE 406 f II ANNIVERSARY 
 
 OF AMERICA'S DISCOVER Y. 
 
 COPYRIGHT 
 
 1893. 
 By LI Brosemkr. 
 
VIGILANCE. 
 
 A POEM. 
 
 ^ 
 
 BORN; FIRST WRITTEN! 
 TN THE YEAR i8gs, THE 4.00 TN ANNIVERSARY 
 
 OF AMERICA'S DISCOVERY. 
 
 COPYRIGHT 
 
 1893. 
 By L Brosemer. 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 
 //'rtfl 
 
 

 
 
Y heart throbs with feeling, 
 Mind wanders into space, 
 And looks for some revealing 
 That yet may bring solace. 
 
 Columbia's light seems growing dim 
 By wild sea-winds her lamp is tossed, 
 
 Let's hasten on its wick to trim, 
 Not stop ere it be done to count the cost. 
 
 With tear-dimmed eyes I look around, 
 Our craft, the Union's, ®KBe&*due 
 
 But list, a rush, some sound, 
 
 A light ! it becks to me and you. 
 
 Ah, ha, our Ship of State T sight, 
 Her flag is given to the breeze, 
 
 She's freighted, and that not light, 
 Majestically she braves the seas. 
 
But look, upon her deck, 
 
 "What is it there ? from out her hold, 
 Oh ! 'tis but a darkened speck ; 
 
 ]STo, no, its movements I behold 
 
 Nearer, nearer, on she speeds, 
 
 Our banner to the top-mast hung ; 
 
 I see not plain, but think she needs 
 More men and bigger gun. 
 
 And now I take the glass 
 
 To scrutinize her form, 
 But studying that strange mass, 
 
 I drop it, with feeling quite forlorn 
 
 Her crew's not all our own, 
 The halyards to are broken, 
 
 Its very form I'm prompted to disown, 
 To me the sight is no good token. 
 
Say, brother, listen now to me, 
 That mass of blackness I perceive 
 
 Tells me that all is not as it should be, 
 And of it, someone must her relieve. 
 
 The boat to us does yet belong, 
 
 But Bigotry's power will cause its loss, 
 
 Why the Eagle at her prow's gone, 
 And in its stead what is't a Cross. 
 
 In peril she is, do you not see ? 
 
 Be quick, the mist is getting dense, 
 And out do put undaunted by rough sea 
 
 Her safety, a glorious recompense 
 
 Jest if you will at my alarm, 
 And think it sheer imagination, 
 
 But by the Stars and Stripes I warn, 
 
 From mind that's stored with observation 
 
^V. : --v- S " ■■'.''. " : ' . ■•■■ ■ 
 
 Out of that Fond 
 
 wherein thou pattest, take not more 
 
 than is thy share. 
 

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