Weathercock, The..........................................................................................J. T. Allingham, xix.

Part Seventeenth.

Each of the Four Numbers of

"100 Choice Selections" contained
in this volume is paged separately,
and the Index is made to corres-
pond therewith. See EXPLANATION on
first page of Contents.

The entire book contains nearly

1000 pages.

100

CHOICE SELECTIONS.

No. 17.

AMERICA.-W. C. BRYANT.

Look now abroad,--another race has filled
These populous borders,—wide the wood recedes,
And towns shoot up, and fertile realms are tilled;
The land is full of harvests and green meads;
Streams numberless, that many a fountain feeds,
Shine, disembowered, and give to sun and breeze
Their virgin waters; the full region leads

New colonies forth, that toward the western seas
Spread, like a rapid flame among the autumnal trees.

Here the free spirit of mankind, at length,
Throws its last fetters off; and who shall place
A limit to the giant's unchained strength,
Or curb his swiftness in the forward race;
Far, like the comet's way through infinite space,
Stretches the long untraveled path of light
Into the depths of ages: we may trace,
Distant, the brightening glory of its flight,
Till the receding rays are lost to human sight.

Europe is given a prey to sterner fates,

And writhes in shackles; strong the arms that chain To earth her struggling multitude of states; She too is strong and might not chafe in vain Against them, but shake off the vampire train That batten on her blood, and break their net. Yes, she shall look on brighter days, and gain The meed of worthier deeds; the moment set To rescue and raise up, draws near-but is not yet.

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