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By the Sea, and Other Verses

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<h2>THE BALLAD OF THE BOUNDARY LINE</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> "Here shall the Boundary Line be laid." "Not so, but here," the other said. Clamor of contest ran fierce and high,— Defiant challenge and proud reply. </div> <div class="stanza"> For heights of the Andes rose between [Pg 69] The Chilean States and the Argentine; And the mooted question, day by day, Was "What doth limit my neighbor's sway?" </div> <div class="stanza"> The sunlight rose and the shadows fell On either slope, but none could tell Just where the morning's magic wand Touched the Argentine or Chile land. </div> <div class="stanza"> Fair in their verdure, pure in their snow, So near to heaven their summits go— Why should they ever by man be trod? 'Twould seem they should only belong to God. </div> <div class="stanza"> But the strife went on with passing years, Fed by resentment and pride and fears; Nor priest nor people could yet define The rightful range of the Boundary Line. </div> <div class="stanza"> The strife went on with its loss and shame, As generations went and came, And each in its turn the task essayed To solve the problem so long delayed. </div> <div class="stanza"> *     *     *     *     * </div> <div class="stanza"> Then kinder, kinglier thought prevailed, Where threat of sword and gun had failed; And love-illumined reason wrought The adjustment long so vainly sought. </div> <div class="stanza"> "For how can a trifle of earth and air With the worth of human lives compare? And what can it matter if thine or mine [Pg 70] Be the narrow side on the Boundary Line? </div> <div class="stanza"> "And why should greed and grim distrust Despoil us of our faith and trust? Enough, enough, let us pledge our word To settle by judgment, not by sword. </div> <div class="stanza"> "Let us heed the counsel our good priests bring, And raise the standard of Christ our King, And the here or there of the Boundary Line Let God and the British king define." </div> <div class="stanza"> Then the mother-heart of the nation stirred, As the fair De Costa's plea was heard: "Fathers and brothers! warriors, men! Shall we give our bravest to death and pain? </div> <div class="stanza"> "Shall we hush our hearts as we see them go— God pity!—to strive with a brother foe? Long we have waited, have suffered and prayed For a joy still denied us, a hope still delayed. </div> <div class="stanza"> "Enough; let the sun in highest heaven Pencil the line for which you have striven; Let a princely people on either side In friendship and fair accord abide; </div> <div class="stanza"> "Be the strife of the past to the wild winds swept; The faith of the future unswervingly kept; And let 'The Christ of the Andes' rest In token of peace on the mountain's crest." </div> <div class="stanza"> Grandly the people made reply; The pledge was taken, the arms laid by, And glad thanksgiving and festal song [Pg 71] Witnessed the joy of the gathered throng. </div> <div class="stanza"> Joy! for the strife of the past was o'er; Joy! for the promise of war no more; Joy in the gladness of land and home, Joy for the world-wide peace to come. </div> <div class="stanza"> On snow-tipped height of the Andean range They planted the statue fair and strange; And there, to the query of the sky, Its bronze and granite make reply: </div> <div class="stanza"> "I witness the failure of the sword, The victory of the Love-sent word; To dust may crumble rock and hill, This pledge of nations abideth still." </div> <div class="stanza"> *     *     *     *     * </div> <div class="stanza"> So now the Boundary Line is laid; Christ in the heart hath the conflict stayed; And now doth "the Christ of the Andes" rest In token of peace on the mountain's crest. </div> </div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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