which Columbus had computed to find the island of Cipango. There were great flights of small field birds to the southwest, which seemed to indicate some neighboring land in that direction where they were sure of food and a resting-place. Yielding to the solicitations of Martin Alonzo Pinzon and his brothers, Columbus, on the evening of the seventh, altered his course, therefore, to the west-southwest. As he advanced, the signs of land increased; the birds came singing about the ships, and herbage floated by as fresh and green as if recently from shore. When, however, on the evening of the third day of this new course, the seamen beheld the sun go down upon a shoreless horizon, they again broke forth into loud clamors, and insisted upon abandoning the voyage. Columbus endeavored to pacify them by gentle words and liberal promises; but finding these only increased their violence, he assumed a different tone, and told them it was useless to murmur: the expedition had been sent by the sovereign to seek the Indies, and happen what might, he was determined to persevere until, by the blessing of God, he should accomplish his enterprise.

He was now at open defiance with his crew, and his situation would have been desperate, but fortunately the manifestations of land on the following day were such as no longer to admit of doubt. A green fish, such as keeps about rocks, swam by

the ships; and a branch of thorn, with berries on it, floated by. They picked up also a reed, a small board, and, above all, a staff artificially carved. All gloom and murmuring was now at an end, and throughout the day each one was on the watch for the long-sought land.

In the evening when, according to custom, the mariners had sung the Salve Regina,1 or vesper hymn to the Virgin, Columbus made an impressive address to his crew, pointing out the goodness of God in thus conducting them by soft and favoring breezes across a tranquil ocean to the promised land. He expressed a strong confidence of making land that very night, and ordered that a vigilant lookout should be kept from the forecastle, promising to whosoever should make the discovery, a doublet of velvet, in addition to the pension to be given by the sovereigns. They continued on their course until two in the morning, when a gun from the Pinta gave the joyful signal of land. It was first discovered by a mariner named Rodriguez Bermejo, resident of Triana, a suburb of Seville,2 but native of Alcala de la Guadaira; but the reward was afterwards adjudged to the Admiral for having previously seen the light. The land was now clearly seen

1 "Hail, O queen!" The expression is from a Roman Catholic hymn to the Virgin Mary. 2 One of the most flourishing commercial cities of old Spain. The books of Columbus are still preserved there, and his son Fernando is buried within the city.

about two leagues distant, whereupon they took in sail and laid to, waiting impatiently for the dawn.

The thoughts and feelings of Columbus in this little space of time must have been tumultuous and intense. At length, in spite of every difficulty and danger, he had accomplished his object. The great mystery of the ocean was revealed; his theory, which had been the scoff of sages, was triumphantly established; he had secured to himself a glory which must be as durable as the world itself.

COLUMBUS

EDWARD EVERETT HALE

Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909), clergyman, writer, and publicist, led a life of patriotic activity terminating with six years of service as chaplain of the United States Senate.

GIVE me white paper!

This which you use is black and rough with smears
Of sweat and grime and fraud and blood and tears,
Crossed with the story of men's sins and fears,
Of battle and of famine all these years,

When all God's children had forgot their birth,
And drudged and fought and died like beasts
of earth.

"Give me white paper!"

One storm-trained seaman listened to the word; What no man saw he saw; he heard what no man heard.

In answer he compelled the sea
To eager man to tell

The secret she had kept so well!

Left blood and guilt and tyranny behind-
Sailing still west the hidden shore to find;

For all mankind that unstained scroll unfurled,
Where God might write anew the story of the
World.

THE WORD OF GOD TO LEYDEN CAME1

JEREMIAH EAMES RANKIN

Jeremiah Eames Rankin (1828-1904) in this poem has expressed the feeling of the Pilgrims while in Holland, whither they had fled for religious freedom. Though for eleven years Leyden had served as a safe abode, these brave Englishmen were unwilling to become Dutch citizens; consequently their thoughts turned to the new land of the west. Mr. Rankin was the author of many other poems and hymns, and one of the latter, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again," is widely popular.

THE word of God to Leyden came,

Dutch town by Zuyder Zee:
Rise up, my children of no name,

My kings and priests to be.

1 Used by permission of Edith Rankin White.

There is an empire in the West,
Which I will soon unfold;

A thousand harvests in her breast,
Rocks ribbed with iron and gold.

Rise up, my children, time is ripe!
Old things are passed away.
Bishops and kings from earth I wipe;
Too long they've had their day.

A little ship have I prepared

To bear you o'er the seas; And in your souls, my will declared, Shall grow by slow degrees.

Beneath my throne the martyrs cry:
I hear their voice, How long?
It mingles with their praises high,
And with their victor song.
The thing they longed and waited for,
But died without the sight;
Lo, this shall be! I wrong abhor,
The world I'll now set right.

Leave, then, the hammer and the loom,
You've other work to do;

For Freedom's commonwealth there's room,
And you shall build it, too.

I'm tired of bishops and their pride,
I'm tired of kings as well;