by W. H. Rhodes
[Decoration]
II.
_THE MERCHANT'S EXCHANGE._
One summer eve, as homeward saunt'ring slowly, My toils and tasks for that day's business done; With thoughts composed, and aspirations holy, That heavenward rose, as downward sank the sun, I heard a throng, whose multitudinous voices Proclaimed some act of public weal begun.
The glad acclaim invited close inspection; And through the crowd I gently made my way, Till, standing firm upon a light projection, That spanned a chasm dug deep into the clay, I heard above the din of city noises, An honored voice, in solemn accents say:
"In presence of Creation's awful Builder, I lay for you this polished corner-stone; God grant no ills your architect bewilder Till into strength and beauty shall have grown The MERCHANT'S 'CHANGE that shall adorn your Guilder When ye have mouldered into dust and bone!"
Day after day, whilst passing to my labor, I saw that gorgeous edifice arise; Until its dome, like crest of sacred Tabor, Sprang from the earth, and arching in the skies, O'ertopp'd the peak of each aspiring neighbor That wooed a tribute from the upturned eyes.
There was no pomp of pious dedication, Boasting this Temple sanctified to God; And yet my soul, in prayerful meditation, Believed no less it might be His abode: For when His arm from bondage led a nation, He heard their cry, though kneeling on the sod!
Around this mart the world's great trade shall centre; Within these walls a Babel tumult sound, Not that which made doomed Shinar a memento Of human pride laid level to the ground, But blended music of all tongues shall enter, And in trade's peaceful symphonies resound!
Above this portal shall no monarch thunder, No grand patrician lord it o'er a slave; Here shall the pagan's bonds be snapt asunder, And creed and race no proud distinction crave; Here shall mankind their shackles trample under, And freedom's banner over freemen wave!
Here shall Confucius braid his ebon tresses, Perfume the cup with aromatic teas, Supply gay beauty with her gaudiest dresses,-- The worm's fine fabric, and the Bactrian fleece; And in exchange shall quaff a balm that blesses, Freedom and truth, in every passing breeze!
Here Kamehameha realize the splendor Foretold by sirens, singing 'round his isles, How cane and pulu be the realm's defender, And roof his palaces with golden tiles;-- When sturdy Saxons should their hearts surrender In captive bonds to coy Kanaka wiles!
Here Petropaulowski store her richest sables, Tahiti waft her oranges and limes, The Lascar weave his stout manila cables, The Malay chafler midst his porcelain chimes, Ceylon with spices scent our groaning tables, Pariah bring Golconda's gems, not crimes; Beneath this dome the Tycoon's gory dragon Shall fold his wings, and close his fiery eyes; Here quaffing from the same enchanted flagon, Fraternal incense shall to Heaven arise; Whilst Vishnu, Thor, Jehovah, Bhudd, and Dagon, Shall cease all strife, and struggle for the prize!
Oh! tell me not the Christian's God will thunder, And rock these hills, with unforgiving ire; By storm or earthquake rend the globe asunder, And quench His wrath in everliving fire-- When He beholds on earth so strange a wonder, All peoples kneeling to a common Sire!
Prophets and priests have from primeval ages Drenched all mankind in seas of human gore; Jurists and statesmen, orators and sages, Have deepened gulfs, which boundless were before; _The merchant sails, where'er an ocean rages, Bridges its depths, and throws the Rainbow o'er!_
All hail! ye founders of Pacific's glory, Who serve bold Commerce at his mightiest shrine: Your names shall live in endless song and story, When black Oblivion flings her pall o'er mine; And when these walls shall totter, quaint and hoary, Bards still shall sing, your mission was Divine!
[Decoration]