Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.

Plough, Loom, and Chisel

WHEN first from on high the great fiat was given,

“By the sweat of thy face shall thy bread be procured:”

The curse proved a blessing descending from Heaven,

And the goddess of Genius her patrons allured.

Then first were display’d the plough, sickle, and spade,

And Industry, smiling, Heaven’s mandate obey’d.

No foe dare molest, where in union are join’d

The plough, loom, and chisel, with commerce combined.

Scarce a thousand short years had completed their round,

When Tubal stood foremost, the pride of his nation;

At the Almighty’s behest, kings and princes were drown’d,

But the ship-builder Noah ’scaped the wide inundation.

Then flourish’d again bless’d Industry’s reign,

Her palace on earth, while her ships plough’d the main.

When Science and Art in communion were join’d,

The plough, loom, and chisel, with commerce combined.

When erst the old world, in dark ignorance held,

By the sceptre of tyrants, and priestcraft surrounded,

Faust, the printer, arose—the gloom was dispell’d,

And the foes of mankind by the type were confounded.

Hail! Science, divine! the palm shall be thine,

While Freedom exults at fell Tyranny’s shrine.

No foe dare molest, where, in union join’d,

The plough, loom, and chisel with commerce combined.

Let the legions of Gallia our country invade,

Let the sails of proud Albion whiten the ocean;

Our pruning-hooks, ploughshares, to swords shall be made,

And the hammer’s sweet sound yield to war’s dread commotion:

We feel not their charms, when the tocsin alarms,

And Bellona’s shrill clarion awakes us to arms.

No foe dare molest, while in union are join’d

The plough, loom and chisel, with commerce combined.

Hail! Charity, hail! may thy laws be obey’d,

Till the earth be enveloped in vast dissolution;

While brotherly love shall one bosom pervade,

May the blessings be shed on this great institution.

May this mansion so fair, plumb, level, and square,

By love be cemented, and nourish’d with care.

With Charity, Love, and Equality joined,

The plough, loom, and chisel, with commerce combined.