Page:What cheer, or, Roger Williams in banishment (1896).pdf/62

 A place of refuge whitherto might flee The hapless exile for his faith opprest, And find his lately trammelled conscience free, And for the scourge and gibbet—charity.

LXXVIII.

He thought he saw the various spires ascending Of many churches, all of different kind, And heard the Sabbath bells harmonious blending Their calls to worshippers of various mind; And saw the people as harmonious wending To several worships, as their faith inclined; And felt that Deity might bend the ear, Such harmony from various chords to hear.

LXXIX.

But still across his mind a shadow came— A doubt that seemed a superstitious fear; For yet no Indian throng, with loud acclaim, Had bid the welcome of Whatcheer! Whatcheer! Till when he should be tossed;—as did proclaim That nameless stranger—that mysterious seer;— But from Haup's Sachem he a grant will gain; Such were best welcome from that Sachem's train.

LXXX.

Full of this thought, he turned at close of day, And gained the humble lodge as night came down; And he could scarcely brook the short delay, Till Waban, coming from the white man's town, Should from Namasket, where the Sachem lay, The cheering welcome bring, or blasting frown; For thou, Soul-Liberty, couldst then no more Than build thy hopes on that rude sagamore.