So even our feeble word For the dumb slaves the startled meeting heard As if a stone its quiet waters stirred; "And, as the clerk ceased reading, there began A ripple of dissent which downward ran In widening circles, as from man to man.
"Somewhat was said of running before sent, Of tender fear that some their guide outwent, Troublers of Israel.

I was scarce intent "On hearing, for behind the reverend row Of gallery Friends, in dumb and piteous show, I saw, methought, dark faces full of woe.
"And, in the spirit, I was taken where They toiled and suffered; I was made aware Of shame and wrath and anguish and despair! "And while the meeting smothered our poor plea With cautious phrase, a Voice there seemed to be, As ye have done to these ye do to me!' "So it all passed; and the old tithe went on Of anise, mint, and cumin, till the sun Set, leaving still the weightier work undone.
"Help, for the good man faileth! Who is strong, If these be weak?
Who shall rebuke the wrong, If these consent?
How long, O Lord! how long!" He ceased; and, bound in spirit with the bound, With folded arms, and eyes that sought the ground, Walked musingly his little garden round.
About him, beaded with the falling dew, Rare plants of power and herbs of healing grew, Such as Van Helmont and Agrippa knew.
For, by the lore of Gorlitz' gentle sage, With the mild mystics of his dreamy age He read the herbal signs of nature's page, As once he heard in sweet Von Merlau's' bowers Fair as herself, in boyhood's happy hours, The pious Spener read his creed in flowers.
"The dear Lord give us patience!" said his wife, Touching with finger-tip an aloe, rife With leaves sharp-pointed like an Aztec knife Or Carib spear, a gift to William Penn From the rare gardens of John Evelyn, Brought from the Spanish Main by merchantmen.
"See this strange plant its steady purpose hold, And, year by year, its patient leaves unfold, Till the young eyes that watched it first are old.
"But some time, thou hast told me, there shall come A sudden beauty, brightness, and perfume, The century-moulded bud shall burst in bloom.
"So may the seed which hath been sown to-day Grow with the years, and, after long delay, Break into bloom, and God's eternal Yea! "Answer at last the patient prayers of them Who now, by faith alone, behold its stem Crowned with the flowers of Freedom's diadem.
"Meanwhile, to feel and suffer, work and wait, Remains for us.

The wrong indeed is great, But love and patience conquer soon or late." "Well hast thou said, my Anna!" Tenderer Than youth's caress upon the head of her Pastorius laid his hand.

"Shall we demur "Because the vision tarrieth?
In an hour We dream not of, the slow-grown bud may flower, And what was sown in weakness rise in power!" Then through the vine-draped door whose legend read, "Procul este profani!" Anna led To where their child upon his little bed Looked up and smiled.

"Dear heart," she said, "if we Must bearers of a heavy burden be, Our boy, God willing, yet the day shall see "When from the gallery to the farthest seat, Slave and slave-owner shall no longer meet, But all sit equal at the Master's feet." On the stone hearth the blazing walnut block Set the low walls a-glimmer, showed the cock Rebuking Peter on the Van Wyck clock, Shone on old tomes of law and physic, side By side with Fox and Belimen, played at hide And seek with Anna, midst her household pride Of flaxen webs, and on the table, bare Of costly cloth or silver cup, but where, Tasting the fat shads of the Delaware, The courtly Penn had praised the goodwife's cheer, And quoted Horace o'er her home brewed beer, Till even grave Pastorius smiled to hear.
In such a home, beside the Schuylkill's wave, He dwelt in peace with God and man, and gave Food to the poor and shelter to the slave.
For all too soon the New World's scandal shamed The righteous code by Penn and Sidney framed, And men withheld the human rights they claimed.
And slowly wealth and station sanction lent, And hardened avarice, on its gains intent, Stifled the inward whisper of dissent.
Yet all the while the burden rested sore On tender hearts.