Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/471

 1850-60.] ISAAC H. JULIAN. 455 " One soul outweighs the spoil of worlds, To the Ruler over all." Then while ye pile Wealth's trophies On plain and hill and glen, Heed well that greater treasure — A race of high-souled men; Clear heads and hearts of purity, The glory of a State, The beauty of the passing hour, Assuring prospei'ous fate. Then lay the track of Progress Through the broad realms of Mind ! Speed on the cars of Light and Truth, To gladden human kind ! Through the howling wastes of Ignorance, Through Pride's deceitful show, With the banner of Salvation, Bid the swift-winged blessing go ! Thus shall Heaven's healing dews descend On the Nation's fevered heart, And sanctify the vital tides That nourish every part; And, as advancing empire Looks to the Western Sea, The Pacific of our Future Shall spread infinitely ! TO THE GENIUS OF THE "WEST. Genius of " my own, my native land !" Majestic, glorious presence of my dreams, 1 own the impulse of thy guiding hand, I hail the light upon thy brow that gleams, Dear and familiar as the sun's bright • beams ! For thou didst smile upon my life's first dawn, A child, lone-wandering by thy quiet streams. Far from the vain and noisy crowd with- drawn. Thy partial glance didst mark and seal me as thine own. Thou bad'st me tune with joy my rustic reed, While smiling Love and Fancy led the strain ; And first my willing voice, as thou decreed. Essayed to sing the glories of thy reign. Since, wandering wide out o'er thy broad domain, Thy presence still has cheered me in the way, And 'mid those vaster scenes, didst thou again Inspire a higher and a sadder lay Than that of sportive Love, to crown my manhood's day — A lay of Truth, inscribed unto my kind. Their joys and griefs, their liberties and wrongs ; The spirit that would every chain unbind, By thee invoked, inspired my later songs With stern rebuke of lying pens and tongues. still be with me, Genius of the West ! And grant the boon for which my spirit longs — To weave the verse which thou shalt deem the best, Ere 'neath my natal soil, I peaceful pass to rest !