Daily national Democrat., 1859-07-03
Written for the National Democrat.

To rehearsc the wondrous story--to recall the
memories dear
That around this great day linger, like an angel
band oflight,
Pointing back each shining finger, to the infant
nations night
Pointing back in one bright cluster, Ger the lab
yrinth of years,
To the days of manhoods muster, to the nights
of woman's tears;
Pointing back to storm and bloodshed, to the
wearisome retreat,
To SHOWS grown crimson meath the tread of
heroes naked feet;
Pointing to nation bankrupt, to an army without
arms,
10 wild frontier forever kept appalled, by fierce
alarms;
To the midday charge of armies, to the midnight
massacre,
The bivouac meath the winter skies, to want and
misery;
To the bridegroom gone to battle, to the sad bride
waiting lone,
Striving in each easements rattle to distinguish
one loved tone;
To the mother. fearful, thinking of her frst-born
proud and brave,
Who at glory S fountain drinking, made a name
and found grave.
Pointing length to victory, when the storm.
clouds rolled away
And the Sun of Freedom from the sky, on earth
began to play;
Never were such colors woven in the ancient loom
of Time
AS in those years bright woof are seen, those
years ofdeeds sublime.
What freeman heard, this morning, the merry
ringing bell,
Or the heavy cannons warning, through the
startled silence swell,
Bat that felt his thoughts returning to the days
that tried our sires
Saw In fancy bale lights burning, every hilltop
red with fires;
But that heard the roar of battle on score of
fighting fields,
Heard the clang the shout, the rattle, and the
great guns heavy pees;
Heard sages' voices pleading with the nation to
be true.
Though their land was sorely bleeding, though
their numbers were but few;
Heard chieftains' voices cheering the brave to
, The starry banners bearing, and chanting Free.
dom's Song.
Holy Lexington, and Concord, and immortal
Bunker Hill;
Millions of lips repeat each word-millions of
proud hearts thrill
As they name them with the others, that hallow
every State,
Where husbands, fathers, brothers, "to maintain
inviolate
Their holy rights" went onward to the strife
in every breath
MurmuringFhe dreadful watchword, "Give us
Liberty or Death"
And yet with all the glories that round this great
day cling
With all the sacred memories that its return does
bring
With that constitution given, an heirloom to the
free,
Made holy by the blood of men who died for
liberty
Made holy by the strug Cling. with famine want,
and foes,
Though it cost to give tbeing the nations widest
throcs,
Still in this land so hallowed by battle field and
grave,
Where sages toiled and heroes bled, legacy to
save,
To give to the young nation a bright land without
stain
A new and grand creation, bound by no despotic
chain,
Still here are those that murmur-that would
with traitor hands
Tear down our ensign from the sky, and break
this Unions bands
Wonld pour the loathsomc chor of their foul
hearts on the State,
Till Freedom would our shores abhor, and yield
US up to fate.
In the midnight deep and solemn, vision came
to me
A voice from dream.lands cloudy real, spake
words of destiny.
1t told me that an Empire, in wonderous glory
dressed,
With subjects stern, to do and dare, should fill
this mighty west.
That in the days approaching they should a bull
wark be
To stop the waves encroachng of that fanatic sea,
Whose dark and turbid billoKs, by winds Of pas
sion driven,
Have rocked the Union with their blows till it is
well-nigh riven,
That they, with calm hearts, beating with fond
love for their land,
Should-Freedom's chant repeating-in solid pha-
lanx stand
To roll back any current, whose torrents might
divide
This land, whose memories are so blent with
glory and with pride.
And all the heavy trials of wanderers to this land
Flood, fire, and want, those vias poured out on
every hand,
The dread waste intervening, of plain and desert
drear
Between us, and our native land, that land we
love so dear,
Or those charnal ships that wander to and fro
with sluggish sail,
As if to tempt the anger of the ocean and the
gale,
Are but to make US stronger, more selfreliaut,
brave,
But to make us trust the longer in the strong arm
that can save,
To make us prize the blessings that are so freely
given,
Blessings no mortal succor brings, the gifts of
God in Heaven.
Then on this Freedoms birthday, let us our
faith renew
Lett along the certain way our march with zeal