The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-01-10
CARRIER Boys ADDRESS.

CARRIER Boys ADDRESS.
| When white haired time, with unrelentiug hand,
| filings the discordant apple in the land,
Turns love to hate aud snaps pure friendships ties,
What mournful feelings of regret then r,se!
Two years ago to-day our ice. bound State
Was warm in friendship and with hope elate;
Eate with hope that war would pass US by,
And dof the blade that brings the widows sigh.
In writing then felt mental pride
That we would yet defeat both wind and tide,
And sailing lightly through the surge all white,
Would not be blinded by the wrecker's light.
Can it be that nations which seem SO pure,
Are not on earth intended to endure?
That things which seem imbued with heavenly light
Are bound in infancy to take their fight!
Let preparation be the the work Of life -
Must buds then suffer from perfections knife!
Alas to-day, as New Year makes bis call,
He finds us struggling in a mortal brawl.
Two years ago he was welcomed BY feasts
Where there's no joy-where music hath
ceased
Men who we're watched for by circles at home,
Arc gone to protect our unfinished dome.
Those men are brave and their cause is right,
But their seems bent less by mind than might
-
They rush to their work with pean and song,
Aud when they sink down in the deadly strife,
They look toward heaven and surrender life,
Breathing no murmur-no revenge reveal,
Whate'er of anguish remorse they feel.
No woman is there for bathing head,
Or soothing brow until he is dead;
He's given to earth in the next days gloom
His coat for his shroud-his honor his tomb.
If this were the last of the man that's dead,
Except pity! more would be said
But when we are told he must live for aye,
In the boundless space Of eternity.
His course to be judged whether right or wrong,
According as twas in an army's ,hrong;
We find ourselves lost aud dare not rove,
Where all is dark as in Paphian grove.
II onr men fell thus IN some foreign cause,
And not here al home to sustain our laws.
And against band whom we thought our friends,
| But were only so to subserve their ends,
'Twould seem less severe for naught takes our life
| With such bitter sting as assassins knife.
Oh that our country might return again,
And feel the same bonds as ere war began;
We had more of right, and far less of vice,
| Than ever land except Paradise.
Rever-d by the world and blessed from on high,
Nothing was wanting that should salty.
! There is in the breast unceasing FIRE,
! Which z ives met rest, but whispers, AsPIREi
| The heat of this fame madden the brain,
Convincing its dupe that all means the same,
Provided the end, which should not be gained,
! May be brought about office attained.
1t can narrow thought, SOW evil seeds,
Make blackness look bright. prompt evil deeds
! Twas given TO man for nstiu
Its abuse will prove bis condemnation.
/ The natural heat Of ambitions fire
! nAs spanued this whole land like electric wire.
The craving Of men e" otice aud place,
De>psing advice-pledged not to rctrace
| Their steps, nor TO harbor thought Of peace
| While escape remained from public decease,
Had nearly o'er,urned the Church and State
| That peace could not soothe--war scarcely xbate
| The deadly rancor which some leaders feel,
| And they rush bindy to woe veal
| Oh what essay ambitious ZEAL
And all the base thoughts which extremists feel;
On fraud, and deception, and cankering hate,
Which, 'eli BY one mind may affect the State,
Will be read with regret, perhaps with tears.
By those who review these few dreadful years,
| And pass that udgmen, which succeeds = storm,
! But, until calm, has 10 certain form.
But still, my friends we have reasons for Joy,
For the future bright hopes without alloy.
! As the air is purer when storms are Ger,
! SO NAV be better than ever before;
We are blessed with health and our field with grain
And cake is not dough-" thanks be to the cane;
| Like the oil of wells, it came just in time
To find Its true sphere and perfect the chime.
l wish you, my friends, HAPPY NEw iEAR!
| And all success in your future career
| sincerely hope, when this day comes back,
To make call in his annual track,
He may not be spurred TO resume his flight,
Because we're estranged in a bloody fight
hope he viii find US making our way
By the broad day light of better day;
That We be fulfilling some great decree,
Which cannon and smoke forbid US to see;
That nations name be the pride of men,
, And the sword give way to the press and pen;
That spears may be bent into pruning hooks,
And Young men return to workshops and books
I wish that blind wrath might subside today,
And reason and right hold permanent sway;
That fanatcal men might NEE; their fate
In the just disgrace Of nations hate.
/ Then moderation. far more of the sage,
e Might hence be traced on political page.
. Silver and gold are the root Of all i'll,
{ Has often been written by sage's quill,
But as things go now they are i'll no more,
t For silver and gold are thing Of yore;
But as Mr.. Chase has a substitute
The bulk of which we scarcely compute,
Yet its value is less, then be not coy
To SHE'LL 1T oCr TO YOUR
CARRIER BOY.