THE NATION'S FIRST NUMBER.
I.
'Tis a great day, and glorious, O Public! for you—
This October Fifteenth, Eighteen Forty and Two!
For on this day of days, lo! The Nation comes forth,
To commence its career of Wit, Wisdom, and Worth—
To give Genius its due—to do battle with Wrong—
And achieve things undreamed of as yet, save in song,
Then arise! fling aside your dark mantle of slumber,
And welcome in chorus The Nation's First Number.
II.
Here we are, thanks to Heaven, in an epoch when Mind
Is unfettering our captives and couching our blind;
And the Press with its thunders keeps marring the mirth
Of those tyrants and bigots that curse our fair earth.
Be it ours to stand forth and contend in the van,
Of truth's legions for freedom, that birthright of man,
Shaking off the dull cobwebs that else might encumber
Our weapon—the pen—in The Nation's First Number.
III.
We announce a New Era—be this our first news—
When the serf-grinding Landlords shall shake in their shoes;
While the ark of a bloodless yet migthy Reform
Shall emerge from the flood of the Popular Storm!
Well we know how the lickspittle panders to Power,
Feel and fear the approach of that death-dealing hour;
But we toss these aside—such vile vagabond lumber
Are but just worth a groan from The Nation's First Number.
IV.
Though we take not for motto, Nul n'a de l'esprit,
(As they once did in Paris) hors nos bons amis,
We may boast that for first-rate endowments, our band
