THE CHRISTIAN SLAVE.
Reading edition
BY J. G. WHITTIER.
[In a publication of L. F. Tasistro, ‘Random Shots and Southern Breezes,’ is a description of a slave auction at New Orleans, at which the auctioneer recommended the woman on the stand as ‘a good Christian!’]
A Christian! going, gone! Who bids for God’s own image?—for His grace Which that poor victim of the market-place Hath in her suffering won? My God! can such things be? Hast thou not said that whatsoe’er is done Unto Thy weakest and Thy humblest one, Is even done to Thee? In that sad victim, then, Child of Thy pitying love, I see Thee stand, Once more the jest-word of a mocking band, Bound, sold, and scourged again! A Christian up for sale! Wet with her blood your whips—o’ertask her frame, Make her life loathsome with your wrong and shame, Her patience shall not fail! Cheers for the turbaned Bey Of robber-peopled Tunis! he hath torn The dark slave-dungeons open, and hath borne Their inmates into day: But our poor slave in vain Turns to the Christian shrine her aching eyes— Its rites will only swell her market price, And rivet on her chain. God of all right! how long Shall priestly robbers at Thine altar stand, Lifting in prayer to Thee the bloody hand And haughty brow of wrong! O, from the fields of cane, From the low rice-swamp, from the trader’s cell— From the black slave-ship’s foul and loathsome hell, And coffle’s weary chain— Hoarse, horrible, and strong, Rises to heaven that agonizing cry, Filling the arches of the hollow sky, How long, O Lord, how long!