Grand'ther Baldwin's Thanksgiving, with Other Ballads and Poems
within its shelter alike shall stand The black man and the white. 

  

       OUT OF EGYPT.     

      To Egypt's king, who ruled beside The reedy river's flow, Came God's command, "Release, O king, And let my people go."       The king's proud heart grew hard apace; He marked the suppliant throng, And said, "Nay, they must here abide; The weak must serve the strong."       Straightway the Lord stretched forth his hand, And every stream ran blood; The river swept towards the sea—        A full ensanguined flood. The haughty king beheld the land, By plagues afflicted sore, But, as God's wonders multiplied, Hardened his heart the more; Until the angel of the Lord Came on the wings of Night, And smote first-born of man and beast, In his destructive flight. Throughout all Egypt, not a house Was spared this crowning woe. Then broke the tyrant's stubborn will; He bade the people go. They gathered up their flocks and herds, Rejoicing to be free; And, going forth, a mighty host, Encamped beside the sea. 

      Then Pharaoh's heart repented him;        He called a mighty force, And swiftly followed on their track, With chariot and with horse. Then Israel's host were sore afraid; But God was on their side, And, lo! for them a way is cleft, The Red-sea waves divide. At God's command the restless waves Obey the prophet's rod; And, through the middle of the sea, The people marched dry-shod. But, when the spoilers, following close, Would hinder Israel's flight, The waters to their course return, The parted waves unite, And Pharaoh's host is swept away, The chariots and the horse; And not a man is left alive Of all that mighty force. So in these days God looks from heaven, And marks his servants' woe; Hear ye his voice: "Break every yoke, And let my people go!"       For them the Red-sea waves divide, The streams with crimson flow; Therefore we mourn for our first-born;—        Then let the people go. They are not weak whom God befriends, He makes their cause His own; And they who fight against God's might Shall surely be o'erthrown. 

  

       THE PRICE OF VICTORY.     

      "A VICTORY!—a victory!"        Is 
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