The Negro in The American Rebellion

Though the day was long in coming,
Though the day was long in coming,
Though the day was long in coming,
That we so longed to see,
That we so longed to see,
That we so longed to see,
Though the day was long in coming
That we so longed to see.

II

But bless the great Jehovah,
But bless the great Jehovah,
But bless the great Jehovah,
At last the glad day’s come,
At last the glad day’s come,
At last the glad day’s come.
By fire and sword he brought us,
By fire and sword he brought us,
By fire and sword he brought us,
From slavery into freedom.
From slavery into freedom,
From slavery into Freedom;
By fire and sword he brought us
Front slavery into freedom.

III

We’ll bless the great Redeemer,
We’ll bless the great Redeemer,
We’ll bless the great Redeemer,
And glorify his name,
And glorify his name,
And glorify his name,
And all who helped to bring us,
And all who helped to bring us,
And all who helped to bring us
From sorrow, grief, and shame,
From sorrow, grief, and shame,
From sorrow, grief, and shame,
And all who helped to bring us
From sorrow, grief, and shame.

IV

And blessed be Abraham Lincoln,
And blessed be Abraham Lincoln,
And blessed be Abraham Lincoln,
And the Union army too,
And the Union army too.
May the choicest of earth’s blessings,
May the choicest of earth’s blessings,
May the choicest of earth’s blessings,
Their pathways ever strew,
Their pathways ever strew,
Their pathways ever strew!
May the choicest of earth’s blessings
Their pathways ever strew!

V

We’ll strive to learn our duty,
We’ll strive to learn our duty,
We’ll strive to learn our duty,
That all our friends may see,
That all our friends may see,
That all our friends may see,
Though so long oppressed in bondage,
Though so long oppressed in bondage,
Though so long oppressed in bondage,
We were worthy to be free,
We were worthy to be free,
We were worthy to be free:
Though so long oppressed in bondage,
We were worthy to be free.”

Just before midnight, Dr. Nichols requested all present to kneel, and to silently invoke the blessing of the Almighty. The silence was almost deadly when the clock announced the new year; and Dr. Nichols said, “Men and women (for you are this day to be declared free, and I can address you as men and women), I wish you a happy new year!” An eloquent prayer was then offered by an aged negro; after which, all rose, and joined in singing their version of “Glory! glory! hallelujah!” shaking each other by the hand, and indulging in joyous demonstrations. They then promenaded the grounds, singing hymns, and finally serenaded the superintendent, in whose honor a sable improvisatore carolled forth an original ode, the chorus of which was, “Free forever! Forever free!”

“Ring, ring! O Bell of Freedom, ring!
And to the ears of bondmen bring
Thy sweet and freeman-thrilling tone.
On Autumn’s blast, from zone to zone,
The joyful tidings go proclaim,
In Liberty’s hallowed name:
Emancipation to the slave,
The rights which his Creator gave,
To live with chains asunder riven,
To live free as the birds of heaven,
To live free as the air he breathes,
Entirely free from galling greaves;
The right to act, to know, to feel,
That bands of iron and links of steel
Were never wrought to chain the mind,
Nor human flesh in bondage bind;
That Heaven, in its generous plan,
Gave like and equal rights to man.
Go send thy notes from shore to shore,
Above the deep-voiced cannon’s roar;
Go send Emancipation’s peal
Where clashes North with Southern steel,