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Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

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BECOMING AMERICA<br />

REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE<br />

Redeemed <strong>from</strong> dust and freed <strong>from</strong> chains,<br />

Her sons snail lift their eyes;<br />

From cloud-capt hills and verdant plains<br />

Shall shouts <strong>of</strong> triumph rise.<br />

Upon her dark, despairing brow,<br />

Shall play a smile <strong>of</strong> peace;<br />

For God shall bend un<strong>to</strong> her wo,<br />

<strong>An</strong>d bid her sorrows cease.<br />

‘Neath sheltering vines and stately palms<br />

Shall laughing children play,<br />

<strong>An</strong>d aged sires with joyous psalms<br />

Shall gladden every day.<br />

Secure by night, and blest by day.<br />

Shall pass her happy hours;<br />

Nor human tigers hunt for prey<br />

Within her peaceful bowers.<br />

Then, Ethiopia! stretch, oh! stretch<br />

Thy bleeding hands abroad;<br />

Thy cry <strong>of</strong> agony shall reach<br />

<strong>An</strong>d nd redress <strong>from</strong> God.<br />

4.25.3 “Learning <strong>to</strong> Read”<br />

(1854)<br />

Very soon the Yankee teachers<br />

Came down and set up school;<br />

But, oh! how the Rebs did hate it,—<br />

It was agin’ their rule.<br />

Our masters always tried <strong>to</strong> hide<br />

Book learning <strong>from</strong> our eyes;<br />

Knowledge didn’t agree with slavery—<br />

‘Twould make us all <strong>to</strong>o wise.<br />

But some <strong>of</strong> us would try <strong>to</strong> steal<br />

A little <strong>from</strong> the book,<br />

<strong>An</strong>d put the words <strong>to</strong>gether,<br />

<strong>An</strong>d learn by hook or crook.<br />

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