LUTHER'S HYMN.

The hand-breadth cloud the sages feared Its bloody rain is dropping; The poison plant the fathers spared All else is overtopping. 2East, West, South, North, 2It curses the earth; 2All justice dies, 2And fraud and lies Live only in its shadow.

What gives the wheat-field blades of steel? What points the rebel cannon? What sets the roaring rabble's heel On the old star-spangled pennon? 2What breaks the oath 2Of the men o' the South? 2What whets the knife 2For the Union's life?— Hark to the answer: Slavery!

Then waste no blows on lesser foes In strife unworthy freemen. God lifts to-day the veil, and shows The features of the demon 2O North and South, 2Its victims both, 2Can ye not cry, 2"Let slavery die!" And union find in freedom?

What though the cast-out spirit tear The nation in his going? We who have shared the guilt must share The pang of his o'erthrowing! 2Whate'er the loss, 2Whate'er the cross, 2Shall they complain 2Of present pain Who trust in God's hereafter?

For who that leans on His right arm Was ever yet forsaken? What righteous cause can suffer harm If He its part has taken? 2Though wild and loud, 2And dark the cloud, 2Behind its folds 2His hand upholds The calm sky of to-morrow!

Above the maddening cry for blood, Above the wild war-drumming, Let Freedom's voice be heard, with good The evil overcoming. 2Give prayer and purse 2To stay the Curse 2Whose wrong we share, 2Whose shame we bear, Whose end shall gladden Heaven!

In vain the bells of war shall ring Of triumphs and revenges, While still is spared the evil thing That severs and estranges. 2But blest the ear 2That yet shall hear 2The jubilant bell 2That rings the knell Of Slavery forever!

Then let the selfish lip be dumb, And hushed the breath of sighing; Before the joy of peace must come The pains of purifying. 2God give us grace 2Each in his place 2To bear his lot, 2And, murmuring not, Endure and wait and labor!