Virginia. A Sonnet.
By Margaret J. Preston
Grandly thou fillest the world's eye to-day,
My proud Virginia! When the gage was thrown -
The deadly gage of battle - thou, alone,
Strong in thy self-control, didst stoop to lay
The olive-branch thereon, and calmly pray
We might have peace, the rather. When the foe
Turned scornfully upon thee, - bade thee go,
And whistled up his war-hounds, then - the way
Of duty full before thee, - thou didst spring
Into the centre of the martial ring -
Thy brave blood boiling, and thy glorious eye,
Shot with heroic fire, and swear to claim
Sublimest victory in God's own name, -
Or, wrapped in robes of martyrdom, - to die!