Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892). The Poetical Works in Four Volumes. 1892.

Anti-Slavery Poems

A Sabbath Scene

This poem finds its justification in the readiness with which, even in the North, clergymen urged the prompt execution of the Fugitive Slave Law as a Christian duty, and defended the system of slavery as a Bible institution.

SCARCE had the solemn Sabbath-bell

Ceased quivering in the steeple,

Scarce had the parson to his desk

Walked stately through his people,

When down the summer-shaded street

A wasted female figure,

With dusky brow and naked feet,

Came rushing wild and eager.

She saw the white spire through the trees,

She heard the sweet hymn swelling:

O pitying Christ! a refuge give

That poor one in Thy dwelling!

Like a scared fawn before the hounds,

Right up the aisle she glided,

While close behind her, whip in hand,

A lank-haired hunter strided.

She raised a keen and bitter cry,

To Heaven and Earth appealing;

Were manhood’s generous pulses dead?

Had woman’s heart no feeling?

A score of stout hands rose between

The hunter and the flying:

Age clenched his staff, and maiden eyes

Flashed tearful, yet defying.

“Who dares profane this house and day?”

Cried out the angry pastor.

“Why, bless your soul, the wench ’s a slave

And I ’m her lord and master.

“I ’ve law and gospel on my side,

And who shall dare refuse me?”

Down came the parson, bowing low,

“My good sir, pray excuse me!

“Of course I know your right divine

To own and work and whip her;

Quick, deacon, throw that Polyglott

Before the wench, and trip her!”

Plump dropped the holy tome, and o’er

Its sacred pages stumbling,

Bound hand and foot, a slave once more,

The hapless wretch lay trembling.

I saw the parson tie the knots,

The while his flock addressing,

The Scriptural claims of slavery

With text on text impressing.

“Although,” said he, “on Sabbath day

All secular occupations

Are deadly sins, we must fulfil

Our moral obligations:

“And this commends itself as one

To every conscience tender;

As Paul sent back Onesimus,

My Christian friends, we send her!”

Shriek rose on shriek,—the Sabbath air

Her wild cries tore asunder;

I listened, with hushed breath, to hear

God answering with his thunder!

All still! the very altar’s cloth

Had smothered down her shrieking,

And, dumb, she turned from face to face,

For human pity seeking!

I saw her dragged along the aisle,

Her shackles harshly clanking;

I heard the parson, over all,

The Lord devoutly thanking!

My brain took fire: “Is this,” I cried,

“The end of prayer and preaching?

Then down with pulpit, down with priest,

And give us Nature’s teaching!

“Foul shame and scorn be on ye all

Who turn the good to evil,

And steal the Bible from the Lord,

To give it to the Devil!

“Than garbled text or parchment law

I own a statute higher;

And God is true, though every book

And every man ’s a liar!”

Just then I felt the deacon’s hand

In wrath my coat-tail seize on;

I heard the priest cry, “Infidel!”

The lawyer mutter, “Treason!”

I started up,—where now were church,

Slave, master, priest, and people?

I only heard the supper-bell,

Instead of clanging steeple.

But, on the open window’s sill,

O’er which the white blooms drifted,

The pages of a good old Book

The wind of summer lifted,

And flower and vine, like angel wings

Around the Holy Mother,

Waved softly there, as if God’s truth

And Mercy kissed each other.

And freely from the cherry-bough

Above the casement swinging,

With golden bosom to the sun,

The oriole was singing.

As bird and flower made plain of old

The lesson of the Teacher,

So now I heard the written Word

Interpreted by Nature!

For to my ear methought the breeze

Bore Freedom’s blessed word on;

Thus saith the Lord: Break every yoke,

Undo the heavy burden!

1850.