Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Selected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Good Part, that shall not be taken away

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“The Good Part, that shall not be taken away” as printed in Poems on Slavery (1842).

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Selected Lyrics Text 2 1842 · historical text
Public domainHistorical songAbolition song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Poems on Slavery, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

She dwells by Great Kenhawa's side,

In valleys green and cool;

And all her hope and all her pride

Are in the village school.

Verse 2

Her soul, like the transparent air

That robes the hills above,

Though not of earth, encircles there

All things with arms of love.

Verse 3

And thus she walks among her girls

With praise and mild rebukes;

Subduing e'en rude village churls

By her angelic looks.

Verse 4

She reads to them at eventide

Of One who came to save;

To cast the captive's chains aside,

And liberate the slave.

Verse 5

And oft the blessed time foretells

When all men shall be free;

And musical, as silver bells,

Their falling chains shall be.

Verse 6

And following her beloved Lord,

In decent poverty,

She makes her life one sweet record

And deed of charity.

Verse 7

For she was rich, and gave up all

To break the iron bands

Of those who waited in her hall,

And labored in her lands.

Verse 8

Long since beyond the Southern Sea

Their outbound sails have sped,

While she, in meek humility,

Now earns her daily bread.

Verse 9

It is their prayers, which never cease,

That clothe her with such grace;

Their blessing is the light of peace

That shines upon her face.

Credits

Written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Historical text published in Poems on Slavery (1842); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Poems on Slavery (1842), “The Good Part, that shall not be taken away”

Every text in this 1842 collection is by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-27. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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