An Anti-Lincoln Poem (Part One).
Martha Ann Penney was the daughter of the Baptist preacher Dr. William W. Penney. William, alongside his father John Penney, another Baptist preacher, were instrumental in founding all of the Baptist Churches in Anderson County, Kentucky. Eli Penney, William’s brother, is most notably known for being the grandfather of the famous J. C. Penney. Martha came to marry a Baptist preacher named James Madison Bell and sired eight children. As a pastime, Martha would often author poetry concerning current events and life’s trials. At the request of her daughter she was able to compile all of the poetry she wrote throughout the years and presented it to her in a handwritten book. Years later, after her mother’s death, Martha’s daughter felt compelled to publish her mother’s poetry as a monument to her memory.
From Martha’s pen we now read:
“There dwelt in Babylon of old
Some mighty kings wicked and bold.
They ruled their subjects with a rod
And set themselves above our God.
They did decree, with solemn vow,
All men should to their idols bow;
But some feared God far more than they
And their decree did disobey.
So Shadrach, Meshac and Abednego
In a fiery furnace they did throw,
But Israel's God whom we admire
Did save them from the smell of fire.
King Darius with his wicked men
Threw Daniel in the lion's den ;
But Daniel's was a glorious cause
And God sealed up the lion's jaws.
Then Darius threw those wicked men
With wives and children in that den.
The lions, 'mid their cries and groans,
Did, in a moment, break their bones.
,Tis thus king Lincoln rules our land
And deals out vengeance with his hand.
,Tis thus our land in rivers run
With blood of father, brother, son.
He speaks, and none dare tell him nay.
He makes men their best friends to slay,
And if with him you disagree
The prison walls you sure will see.
He tears the husband from his wife
And forces him to deadly strife.
From day to day we hear the cry,
‘Give men and mone…
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