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: Where rising o'er the vales below, These priest-like trees in gowns of snow, Arose with outstretched arms, and prayed, A benediction o'er the glade. Calm was the night, both calm and cold, And winter firmer grasped its hold, That long had known this stubborn clime, For now 'twas after Christmas time. A Christmas-time that to each boy Had brought all else of earth save joy: For in each home throughout the land, The law of an oppressor's hand Had thrust beside the fireside there, To all the unwelcome guest of care. A care: that bowed each pious head; From which long years before they fled, And gladly to the breeze unfurled Their sails, toward a new-found world. Vain was the hope that long was theirs, Though freedom still adorned their prayers; A Monarch's unjust laws pursued, That every cherished hope subdued: While through their thriving hamlets ring, The unjust mandates of the King. But to his chief ne'er savage sprang More swift, when loud the war cry rang; chapter{Section 4Than answered they the leader's ire, Who fanned the smouldering wrath to fire; As, frequent pausing 'mid their toil, He vowed the freedom of the soil. From out the leafless woods that reared Its naked boughs, three forms appeared. The first, though aged, would dare to brave The angered tiger in its cave, And well with ease his iron frame, A giant's wrathful ire might tame. A patriot he whose mighty arm Eebuked the cavil of alarm, And ready rose to deal the blow Whene'er injustice was the foe. Thus oft inviting him to seek The council of the poor and weak, Had caused an enemy to bring His name reproachful to the King, That brought for noble deeds instead An offering on his aged head. There a...