An Appeal For The Country
London, January 4, 1861
by Mrs. Ellen Key Blunt
The following lines were written on the 4th of January, after the author had complied with the President's recommendation to observe it as a day of humiliation and prayer.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards man."
From lake to gulf, from sea to sea
We have knelt in one solemn Fast,
That God may heal our country's strife,
Forgiving us all the past.
Hear we no voice as we listening stand?
Comes there no touch on the angry hand?
Thrills not one heart-throb through the land?
Peace, brothers, peace!
Oh, by our homes so bright and fair,
Where the Christmas garlands wave!
Oh, by our loved ones nestling there
By each cradle, by each grave!
By the church bells ringing in the air,
By the praying of our common prayer;
By the Bible on which our people swear!
Peace, brothers, peace!
Would you rend our country's breast in twain?
It lies bare to the mortal blow,
But the sword that could drink her holy vein
Should be that of a foreign foe.
Not of her children, cradled free,
Not of her home-born; never be
Such written page of History!
Peace, brothers, peace!
Would ye part the river which north and south
Rolls grandly its career?
Sounds not a tone from its mighty mouth
Teaching us, far and near,
That the North and the South, like it, must be
One power, one home, one unity;
One time and one eternity?
Peace, brothers, peace!
Brothers, beware; the storm is high-
Our ship of state strains heavily-
And her flag, whose spangles have lit the sky,
Is fluttering - tattered and torn to be.
God of our Father Washington,
Our trust is in Thy arm alone;
Count Thou her stars, keep every one!
Peace, brothers, peace!
