Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Of what we are and shall be to the world, In our own grand and genial Gulf stream furled, Which through the vast and colder ocean pours Its waters, so that far-off Arctic shores May sometimes catch upon the softened breeze Strange tropic warmth and hints of summer seas. THE SOUTHERN CROSS. BY ST. GEORGE TUCKER. Air—The Star Spangled Banner. Oh, say, can you see, through the gloom and the storm, More bright for the darkness, that pure constellation ? Like the symbol of love and redemption its form, As it points to the haven of hope for the nation. How radiant, each star, as the beacon afar, Giving promise of peace, or assurance in war; 'Tis the Cross of the South, which shall ever remain, To light us to Freedom and Glory again! How peaceful and blest was America's soil, Till betrayed by the guile of the Puritan demon, Which lurks under virtue, and springs from its To fasten its fangs in the life-blood of freemen. Then loudly appeal, to each heart that can feel, And crush the foul viper 'neath Liberty's heel! And the Cross of the South shall forever remain, To light us to Freedom and Glory again ! 'Tis the emblem of peace, 'tis the day-star of hope, Like the sacred Labarum, which guided the Roman ; From the shores of the Gulf to the Delaware's slope, "Pis the trust of the free, and the terror of foemen. Fling its folds to the air, while we boldly declare The rights we demand, or the deeds that we dare; And the Cross of the South shall forever remain, To light us to Freedom and Glory again ! But if peace should be hopeless, and justice denied, And war's bloody vulture should flap his black pinions, Then gladly to arms ! while we hurl in our pride, Defiance to tyrants, and death... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.