humor, its store-house of thrilling
memories--a voice of mingled power and pathos, words burning with the
unconsuming fire of genius, virtues gathering in ripened beauty upon a
brave heart, and moral integrity preeminent over all else--all this
could not make a black man the social equal of a white coxcomb, even
though his brain were as blank as white paper, and his heart as black
as darkness concentrated. May heaven alleviate our undiluted
stupidity!

ANTOINETTE L. BROWN.

Vincent Oge

[Fragments of a poem hitherto unpublished, upon a revolt of
the free persons of color, in the island of St. Domingo (now
Hayti), in the years 1790-1.]

There is, at times, an evening sky--
The twilight's gift--of sombre hue,
All checkered wild and gorgeously
With streaks of crimson, gold and blue;--
A sky that strikes the soul with awe,
And, though not brilliant as the sheen,
Which in the east at morn we saw,
Is far more glorious, I ween;--
So glorious that, when night hath come
And shrouded it in deepest gloom,
We turn aside with inward pain
And pray to see that sky again.
Such sight is like the struggle made
When freedom bids unbare the blade,
And calls from every mountain glen--
From every hill--from every plain,
Her chosen ones to stand like men,
And cleanse their souls from every stain
Which wretches, steeped in crime and blood,
Have cast upon the form of God.
Though peace like morning's golden hue,
With blooming groves and waving fields,
Is mildly pleasing to the view,
And all the blessings that it yields
Are fondly welcomed by the breast
Which finds delight in passion's rest,
That breast with joy foregoes them all,
While listening to Freedom's call.
Though red the carnage,--though the strife
Be filled with groans of parting life,--
Though battle's dark, ensanguined skies
Give echo but to agonies--
To shrieks of wild despairing,--
We willingly repress a sigh--
Nay, gaze with rapture in our eye,
Whilst "FREEDOM!" is the rally-cry
That calls to deeds of daring.

* * * * *

The waves dash brightly on thy shore,
Fair island of the southern seas!
As bright in joy as