re freely doled
To thy degraded sons;
Then spear and lance were left to rust
Along thy bannered walls,
Thine eagle drooped and strangers dwelt
In "Montezuma's halls."

Oppression's long dark night of pain
At length wore slowly on,
And, radiant 'mid receding gloom,
Hope heralded the dawn.
Day broke, and Freedom's glorious sun
Uprose o'er thine and thee,
While thy clear bells with silvery chime
Proclaimed a country FREE.

And mingling with their heavenly tones
Glad triumphs swelled the breeze,
For that bright sun dispelled the gloom
Of rolling centuries.
A flood of golden light streamed down
O'er valley mount and plain,
Thy joyous eagle plumed his wing
And soared aloft again.

Thy sons rejoiced o'er rights restored,
The joy of other years,
And gentler woman's truthful heart
Wept silent grateful tears;
And thou--bathed in thy new-born light--
Thou ancient island-gem,
Ah! to thy proud fond children's hearts
Thou wert an Eden then.

But thy stern oracles the while
Spoke ever deep and slow--
"Dark hours are yet reserved for thee,
Ill-fated Mexico!"
And after years proved all too soon,
Proved to thy bitter pain,
Thy soil's vast wealth, thy sons' best blood,
Had flowed, and flowed in vain.

How hast thou mourned the civil broils
That shook thy peaceful homes?
How hast thou mourned the broken faith
Of thy degenerate sons?
The faith thrice broken that incurred
Columbia's vengeful sword,
Till red o'er many a battle-plain
Thy blood like water poured.

Again the stranger's echoing tread
Sounds from thy ancient halls--
Again the flag of other lands
Waves o'er thy captured walls.
Thy peerless beauty, storied lore,
Thy buried heroes' fame,
Wealth, power--ah, what are they to thee
With thy dishonored name!

The foe that first beheld thy towers
Beyond the lake's green shore,
And they who fondly reared thee up,
The lordly ones of yore--
They did not dream a change like this
Could on thy pride be hurled,
Who erst amid thy mountains reigned
Queen of the new-found world.

GAME-BIRDS OF AMERICA.--NO. XI.

[Illustration: THE RUFFED GROUSE OR PHEASANT.]

In the Eastern States the true partridge is kn