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Black Nationalism and Emigration 199 LINES, ADDRESSED TO MR. AND MRS. J. T. HOLLY, ON THE DEATH OF THEIR TWO INFANT DAUGHTERS⁷⁸ “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”⁷⁹ ’Tis true the favored ones of Heaven Are called from earth in early youth, Ere evil thoughts and deeds have given A will opposed to heavenly truth. ’Tis not for them the tear should fall, ’Tis not for them the sigh should rise, Whose infant spirits burst their thrall Returning to their native skies. Weep not for them, they ne’er shall know The evils of this earthly life, Which in the hearts of mortals sow Deception, envy, hate and strife. Weep not for them, it is not meet To bend in sorrow o’er their bier; With wails the spirit’s joy to meet; And greet its triumph with a tear. 78. From Frederick Douglass’ Paper, 29 February 1856, 4. At the end of the poem, Douglass prints Whitfield’s place of composition and date of completion: “BUFFALO, Feb. 20th, 1856.” During the mid-1850s, Whitfield had become friendly with James Theodore Holly, sharing an interest in African American emigration to the southern Americas. An ordained Episcopal priest living in New Haven at the time of the death of these daughters, Holly eventually emigrated to Haiti in 1861. 79. Matthew 19:14; Mark 10:14. 200 Black Nationalism and Emigration For though their infant souls are fled Far from their prison house of clay, Th’ immortal spirit is not dead, But lives in heaven’s eternal day. Oh! who would stay their upward flight, And draw their spirits back again From heaven’s pure and holy light, To this dark world of woe and pain. Then weep not for the favored ones, Who tutored now in heavenly lays, Join in with pure angelic ones To utter forth Jehovah’s praise. ...

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