, 1864-03-26
The Mechanic.

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Mechanics whose toll is the wealth of the nation
Whose breasts are its bulwarks when danger is high,
Tho humble yonr Dot and despsed your yocation,g
You have honor and wealth thatthe world cannot buy
The minions OF wealth may affect to despse you,
PrOnouncing you Ignorant sOrdid and base,
But the moment will come that shall teach them to
The scorn they have Written themselves shall erase.
Not theirs is the hand that can turn back the blow
That threatens to sweep DER our altars and homes,
They may live in the breeze that but plays with the
/ wilow,g uoc9Ii Tcl.- T9f0i iD yAl
But wo unto them when the hurricane comes. no
They must call upon youin tile moment Of danger
When the banner spreads its red folds to the air
Whenour homes are assaulted by the hands of stran-
And5oaf 7ale5 reeclio with cries Of despair. z 'l3
Where of Rome's faded grandeur herrqns are telling
Where Athens proud temples reflect back the sun,
In Palmyras Streets the jackal's lone dwelling
Are recorded the triumphs by industry won. liI-.
There is not nation where science has hOurished,
There IS not land where the arts have adorned,
But your yalor has guarded your industry nourshed
Through glory and shame tho degraded and scon'd
Yourlabor in peace, like bright, living fountain,
Sends rivers Of wealth toreplenish the earth, Id
Andin war ike the storm-beaten rock Of themOuptain
You ward eff tic blast from the land Of your birth
But when peace, like the sun, oer your country is
shining, rf OIL. nd .rrf. .IIrlrr
For the wealth you bestow they repayyou with sneers
anu lhO "OulINo JOu LaNO OOlIO III uCI CdWaC uDIS'
pinng, ret-r.Uru ensgafr --
Ingratitude bathes with adversity's tears r-.r
When the herald of fame in the annals of story nt
The deeds of hero procaims through the land,
The monuments raised to emblazOn his glory
And the deeds they record tle work of thy hand.
But what your reward when the conflicts ended q?
Or where is your niche in the temple of fame 2 -
The laurels You won with anothers are blended,
And darkness stillrests on the artizan's name.
Yet bow not your hearts to proud mans reviling,
More noble in SORROW than he in his pride; @ e
At each mark disdain with truedignty smiling, dJ
Your acts win rebuke when your lotthey derde,
Let hope cheer your PATH though despised and neg
u lected, T nlrf9 neMJIJua9 oI .llII
Be virtue your shield when temptation is nigh ,
BY honor's bright code be your actions directed,
Deserve and demand the respectfully deny.
For ages you langushed in darkness and sorrow,
Toing on for the wealth that another must reap
Each day of regret but the type of tomorrow, i.f
AS wave reflects wave DER the face Of the deep,
But one after one your chains have been riven,
And the day star of hope from the horizon rose;
When the starspanged flag to Columbia given,
Called the children of toll meath its shade to repose.
Then high be your aim for the portals of glory
By freedom unbarred now disclose to the view
tablet whereon to efnblazon your story, ..
An urn for the tears to your memory due. t
When your country's proud star through futuuity
Beams bright through the deeds that her children
have done, 9f -ea -lLff G 2.H
May the loYelest wreath round her diadem twining
Be that which her toil-worn mechanics have won.