Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-07-20

But look there stands form so beautiful, Sc
rene,
Who views with fearless eye tn unhappy scene
Her robes, nation loves to gaze upon-
Her banner tells of many u victory won
Upon her brow she wears a wreath Of stars,
Unblemished mid the battle smoke of wars
One hand supports the ensign of the free,
The other graSps the sword of victory.
With placid smile she views the stripes and stars
Then chances down upon the field of Mars;
Sees there her penant with no star effaced,
No colors gone, and not styipe erased
Chances afar, where the grim war-cloud floats,
Then pats her guns--tEere's death within their
Threats.
She waves her hand-bright banners kiss the
air,
And nations guns belch forth the blaze Of
war;
\ nation wakes from its lethargic sleep,
And thousands mourn that were not bern to
weep,
And in the worlds old history page
Shall be inscribed, and in future age,
Its record shall unfold, and it shall tell
How mighty nation moved when Sumter fell.
| ris past-'tis done,-the soul-dishonored deed
That caused the eve to weep, the heart to bleed
And it's engraved in characters of blood
Upon nations tablet; and food
Perpetual can ne'er erase the stain
Of that foul blot on her escutcheon
Farewell, old battered Sumter--a long farewell !
Thy downfall caused a nations heart to swell
With anger, proud dsdain, but not with fear
And million lips made prayer ne'er prayed
before
Farewell thy heroes, and thy battered walls;
Farewell We faithful guns and cannon balls;
| Farewell old fag-sta I, with thy colors flying;
Farewell We dead, who knew no pain III dying {;
Farewell old flag, proud emblem of the free;
| Farewell the dead who died defending thee.
A long farewell to all thy greatness gone,
Thy nobeness betrayed, thy glory shorn
For treason hath assaulted and humbled thee,
Historic SUMTER fortress OF the sea.
Yet our nation lives immutable as rock
A nation moves and Earth shall feel the shock:
For every valley, hillside, mount and glen,
Rc-echOe5 with the tread of marching men
Brave patriot sons in whose veins flow
The patriot blood of an hundred years ago.
From coast to lake re echoes wars alarms,
nation moves, peoples up in arms;
Our liberties are safe-our nations free
God bless the sacred goddess, LIBERTY
Our downfall is not yet, nor shall it be
For centuries, for blood bough. victory
Shall perch upon our banners, and Hume
Now hanging DER our nationality
The wouId-hc funeral pail of liberty
The day dawns in the oast--the clouds arise
The gloom dispels, and glory lights the skies
nation shouts, and filings her banners out,
And heavens vault reyerberates the shout!
Our second independence, gained through veal
! And woe awaits the impress of the seal
" hich certifes the freedom of the soul
An angel CPe's the long-withholden scroll
The heavens glow with holy light-a food,
And lightnings blaze the autograph of God.
The benediction was then pronounced by
Father David. The procession again formed
and marched to Front Street.-The military
acting as body guard to the thirty-four ladies'
and halted ia front Of the Postoffice Here
DR.. Witter thanked the ladies' on behalf OF
the citizens, for their valuable assistance in
properly celebrating the day we all revere
By request, Mr. j. n. Brundage rendered the
thanks of the citizens to the military company
in the following remarks:
officers and members Of the Grand
Rapids Union Guards At the re-
quest Of the officers Of the day, and in
behalf of the citizens of W God county,
[ have to thank You heartily for your
attendance or this occasion, and to as
sure you that your services to-day have
been appreciated by us all. And, gen
tlemen, the day may not be far distant
when the whole country will have to
thank you for valuable services render
ed in the defence of our beloved coun-
try-on the tented feld-in the heat of
battle. And however much we NAV
need your services and counsel here at
home-however much we may love and
respect you as relatives ard citizens
however much we may miss you at the
festive board, at the social circle, at
the dancing ball, and at the church,
we shall tearfully, yet joyfully bid you
goodbye and God-speed and while
absent, our prayers shall ascend TO the
Great Father of Battles to guide, pro-
tect, and vouchsafe to you q speedy
and triumphant return.
The procession then ''broke ranks" and dis
persed. In the evening, the lovers of the
dance congregated at both the Union School
House and at Arpin's Hall, where they ''tripped
the light fantastic toe" until the ''wee small
hours of morn" Thus ended a celebration
worthy of the patriotism and enterprise of the
people of Wood County.
ozsss -aaN~--
The Milwaukee News has
changed proprietors and editors.
Sharpstain & Lathrop have again ia
ken the management Of it. The salu-
tatory ofthe editor promises cordial
support Of the government in the pros