Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-08
ADDRESS TO THE MINERAL rc1r raauNe


silver Quarter, and forthwith disburse
The same, In payment for his humble verse.
Custom makes law, and therefore I appear,
And greet you kindly with the opening year;
Hoping that all may have chance mix
just to their taste, in Eighteen Fify-Sx,
Their cup of happiness and may they quaf
Deep of ifes joys, and fling with merry laugh.
The cares and sorrows of the world away,
That gather round them this festive day.
Still while We hail the advent of tie year,
And greet its presence with such boisterous cheer;
While in the rapture of the passing hours
Too soon, alas to fade like autumn flowers
We deem LIES pleasures freed from all alloy,
And paint the future nought but peace and JOY.
Wen of the past the record keep in view,
Nor quite forsake the Old Year, for the New.
Old Fifty five! what strange emotions tsrall
The mind and heart, more recall
Thy varied scenes, checkered with good and i'll:
How great thy triumphs, victories; and still
How much of sorrow, and disease and death,
Mingle with all thy happiness. The breath
That fans thy temples where fresh laurels wave,
Stirs the dark cypress--emblem of the grave
For the bright laures that adorn thy brow
Are wreathed with cypress for the loved ones
AS with the eye of faith the Moslem views
His heaven with Hours crowded, and pursues
With reckless haste the path thai leads him there,
Regardless of the SORROWS and the care
That clog the wheels of life, and lead his feet
Through paths that yield the bitter with the sweet
So we, while mourning for the countless host
The brave, the loved, the noble those who most
Have DONE and suffered for the struggling world;
Would look beyond the scenes, where banners furled
Blend with the cypress. and increase the gloom
That gathers round the portals of the tomb,
And view the blessings profusely given,
Making our earth far than Moslem heaven.
Thy varied seasons they roll along
Yield fruitful topics for the poets song.
Spring with her balmy breath, her perfumed iowrs,
Her quiet glades, her brooks and messy bow'rs
Vocal with birds, and summers lengthcning days.
Her tropical luxur' ance and the blaze
OF her meridian sum- whose rpenng beams
Fulfill the early promise for the earth, CLEANS
With golden harvest. Autumn smiling
Pours with generous hand, all care beguiling.
Her riches forth--then winter gaunt and scar,
Closes the Iabors of the toiling year
Peace hath her victories" It's said and
Will prize it less on that account For one,
i deem the peaceful trumphs of the world
OF far value than when Hosts are hurled
'Ganst wall-girt Cities when armies clash
In mortal combat, or when navies dash
The salt spray from their prows and boldly keep
In quest of venture Ger the stormy deep;
For these but to wake nations hate,
And add strength nor honor to the State;
And every victory these proud armies gain,
But rivet tighter some poor bondmans chain
While Dove-eyed" Peace with meek and smiling micn
Gladdens all hearts and in her path are seen
Plenty and happiness, and Freedom relgns
Supreme forever, wide domains.
How then in fitting numbers shall sing
Thy peaceful triumphs, Fiffy-fye, and fling
Around O all the nations of the earth
A knowledge Of thy goodness and thy worth?
For Wars shrill clarion wakes the startled world,
And to the breeze his banner is unfurled,
And mighty hosts have gathered in array,
Burning with martial ardor for the fray.
All Europe tremblcs, and with awe surveys
This mighty Armament, that proudly sways
The destinies of Empires, and can give
Lost Nationalities the right to live.
But mid the clang and din of Wars alarms,
The Arts OF Peace, secure from all that harms,
Perfect their triumPhs, and secure name
Erlbl.zored igh upon the scroll Of Fame
And should we seek in lands beneath the sun,
For the proud vctors, who at last have
The most enduring laurels in the race,
And thus for aye their country's history grace,
Where think You, should seek that noble band
But in cur own our highly favored land
That land whose ghtnings wild and tempest-driven,
Were tanned by FIASkIs, and brought down from heave
Yes in the Congress, lately held in France,
CT the worlds industry, rapid glance
AT the long list OF. prizes, plainly show
The triumphs won, and many a cheek Will glow
With patriotic pride, as they behold
On flames bright tablet their own names enrolled
For there our Eagle lowering DER the Seine
Plucked for Der Sons bright aures fresh and green,
Then rising swiftly from III enhancing sight,
Plumed her broad pinions for loftier flight,
And DER the waters of the dark blue sea,
She sought once more the land OF Liberty
But not alone tho in my humble verse
Shall these civic victories rehearse,
For here are triumphs that enbody still
Far notler talents than the artists skill,
And win renown for those who cen In youth
Are found the friends OF Freedom and of Truth
Yes !, there are Champions In our own bright land
" no dare for Truth and Freedom take their stand,
And in defiance of Expressions might,
Contend for God, for Liberty and Right
Where Border Ruffans with relentless hate
Wage civil war, and tempt the only fate
That should be meeted those who dare
DEFY Gods laws and before men declare
That Kansas soil shall be by Bondmen trod,
And all opposed, should sleep beneath the sod,
There there are found noble manly host
OF patriots gathering in idle boast,
With strength and courage for the coming strife.
Is freely offered to guard Freedoms soil
From the pollution of Bondmans toll.
God grant them victory bloodless peace
And may this civil strife forever cease;
But should they be, IN spite of all we hope,
Compelled with Slavery myrmidons to COPE
Nav they, regarding other issues trfes,
In solid phalanx, armed with Sharps true rifles,
Prove to their foes, upon the field of strife,