Daily national Democrat., 1861-04-27
POem.--BY Noah Brooks.
READ AT THE ODD FELLOWS OBLIGATORY cELEBRA
TIoN, IN MARYsvILLE, APRIL 26TH, 1861.


Is watching from its throne on high;
From where Nevadas purple chain
Sends forth its arrowy streams to shine
Through the long, dry and level plain,
Where gnarled oaks displace the pine
From Santa Claras fertile fields,
And Ell Dorado's vine-clad hills
From where the mine its treasure yields,
And wealth her horn of plenty fills;
From San Joaquin bright, devious tide,
And San Francisco's nland-bay,
From Mt. Diablo's tawny side,
And llower-gemmed vale of San Jose
From Mariposa's fairy land,
And northern Humboldt, far away,
We come, we come joyful band,
To celebrate this festal day.
No party clans or cliques are we,
To lay long wires and trim the sail,
That whatsoe'er the wind may be,
1t blow for us a fav'ring gale;
Nor mad enthusiasts, hot with zeal,
To make the world once more anew,
And show mankind how much we feel
The trials which they labor through.
But here we've gathered in our might,
Strong Manhood, Age and buoyant Youth,
To dedicate with solemn rite,
A home to Friendship, Love and Truth.
Once, where this city rears its walls
Where circlug streams commingled glide,
The wild beast uttered lonely calls
Or savage wooed his swarthy bride.
And where to-day our temple stands
The Hail of Friendship, where she reigns,
The golden wild oat clad the lands,
Nor white man marked the wide domain.
The wild flowers bloomed where now we stand
In fragrant lars the red deer lay,
But far away, by Wildey's hand,
Began work we praise to-day.
Mysterious Ordcri in whose path
Strong men and true have trod
Whose name provokes the weak mans wrath
1t is so very odd.
What though the stranger may not feel
What thy grand rites denote,
And think our inner halls conceal
The legendary goat?
Thine be the mission to each heart
To bring desired relief;
New life and courage to tmpart
To sad, despondent Grief
The orphan owns thy shetering love,
The widow owns thy care;
Thy virtues lead to homes above,
And find pattern there.
What grateful blessings from thy hand,
Have lavishly been gwen,
To bless and beautlfy the land
And point the way to Heaven.
IT'S good, as fly the passing hours,
To turn the vision back
And see how brightly bloom the flowers.
Along the shining track.
See Truths blue, modest petals spread,
And Purity's pale flower
Is blooming close where Loves bright red
Is flashing IN itS power.
Graces and virtues, springing here,
In mingled odOrs blend
With woman's gentle guile to cheer
The Husband, Brother Friend
Rich be the fluted shaft, and high
The broad and generous dome
Rising in California's sky
To give each Lodge home.
Lay the foundations broad and deep,
Our chldren's children may
Within those walls their councils keep,
Nhen we are slumbering clay.
Well may re come in hammered bands,
From mountain, hill and PLAIN,
To bless the labor of our hands,
With muscs solemn strain.
No common deed, no empty rite
Is that performed to-day;
But grain is srewn and water bright
Is cast, with flowers gay,
To mark where plenty shall abide
Aud purity be found;
And where the flowers have sweetly died,
Henceforth is hallowed ground.
And when we part from this bright hour
And to our homes disperse.
May each one feel the gentle power
The moral of my verse.
Through Sacramento's turbid tide,
Fast flowing TO the main,
Shall soon this noble band divide,
20 never meet again;
Though snowy Shasta far away,
May call our brothers home,
And hower-gemmed vale of San Jose
Forbid their feet to roam;
Though FL Dorados vine-clad hills
Our friends once more shall know,
And to Placer's deep canon rills
These Lodges homeward go;-
Though disunited far and wide,
BY mountain, field and flood
Though far apart we still abide,
And own no kindred blood
Yet, though of many, we are one
United still in heart,
AS kindred drops together run,
To act a c .mmon part.
Salute we then the virtuous three
0 Manhood, Age and Youth!
Apostles in the world are we
OF Friendship, Love and Truth.
ID hoe