Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1847-1861, 1857-06-03

FIRST MAIDEN.
MISS MARY c. STEELE.
Herald nailens-'tis our duty
To proclaim our Queen Of May.
Who in youthful bloom and beauty.
Regns DER this triumphant duy.
SECOND MAIDEN.
MISS EMMA L. LONG.
Is there one with voice dissenting,
Mingles not their vows with ours,
One whose power our rights preventing,
Rules the genii of these bowersi
FLORA.
MISS META f. MAclvER.
Who are We, presumptious maidens,
That approach my hallowed boundl
With my gems your hands are laden,
My sweet flowers your brow surrounds,
BY this floral crown l wear,
by this wand of vernal splendor;
Ye TO ME, your vows must render,
Mine these bowers, these regions fair.
FIRST MAIDEN.
Gracious Goddess, thy dominion,
Ne'er received loyelier band,
Not of power servile minion,
But free daughters Of the land;
We through thy green realms are straying
With our charming Queen Of May.
SECOND MAIDEN.
Let US hear our footsteps straying-
Celebrate this joyous day.
FLORA.
Tell me, who's the maid We honor,
With this lofty right divine.
Born beneath our starry banner
So IJlpAs..k:-
No-witlG her veins is flowing
Patriotic blood, ns pure rs thine
No imperial honOrs knowing.
Round her no vain ragent shine.
Claiming no ancestral glory,
= She fIom nobler lineage springs
Than is traced in British story,
Daughters Of the king Of kings.
Breathe her name, let zephyrs floating,
Bear it on their wings afnr.
SECOND MAIDEN.
Eleanor. thus thy mandate needing,
proclaim Mays reigning stac.
Eleanor, here with grace presiding,
Wear this day thy vernal crown,
Joys aud peace attend thy bidding,
Till thy regal reign goes down,
AIaidens, let thy coronation,
lIallow this beauteous bower,
Peace be every hearts oblation,
Offered thissausrici"is hour.
BOTH MAIDENS.
MISSES EMMA LONG AND MARY c. STEELE.
Thanks most sweet and gracious Flora,
Sister Maidens, guide your queen,
Bend your flowery arches DER her,
Lead her to your arbor green,
FLOWER STREWER.
MISS MARY c. STEELE
Carries basket of flowers and strews them be-
,re the Queen, and repeats the following verses:
Like star that breaks at cen
Suddenly upon the heaven,
Musical rs fountains play,
Comes our sunny Queen Of May.
Around her path in fragrant showers,
Roses fall and all sweet flowers,
Light her step as dancing fay,
Glccsom", winsomc, Queen Of May -
GROWN BEARER.
MISS CLARA II. MCQUEEN.
Yer the dark blue waste of the dreary gloom,
We have Travelled by day and by night,
I'LL winter we have left in lis cold frozen tomb,
And spring comes forth blooming and blight.
We cullcd every flower in woodland and glen,
To wrca,he crown worthy Of our Queen,
may not u thorn or briar within,
Or roughncss or poison lie seen.
'ut may every virtue and every grace,
Its lit-giving radiance impart.
md may soft tresSes aud sweet smiling faces
Ever reign fair Queen of each heart.
hen take ii dear Emma, this wild flower wreath,
And twine it round Eleanor's brow,
may she be happy in this fair world beneath,
And M N,U"m more haPpy than "O'r.
CROWNERS SPEECH,
MISS EMMA K. rRyAN.
Yes, gcn;l. Clara, from thy friendly hand,
take A. gilt of springs sweetest flowers,
\ wreath neatly made 10y The fair Of our land,
To crown our dear Eleanor, the Queen Of our
bowers.
And as receive it, anh place it with care,
And entwine its soft tendrils around thy fair
brow,
Oh may it rest lightly and pleasantly there,
And may ycd be ever as queenly as now.
And in all your reign. may II he your first care,
To render your subjects both happy and fer
And TO God, our first ruler, We will offer our
Drayer,