Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-07-23
To us, be sure it stiii is vital in you

cast
From the Spring promise of our Freedom
tree,
Pruning its oyergrowths, that so, at last,
It's later fruit more beautiful shall be -
Content it. when the balm Of Time assuage
The brancb's hurt, some fragrance Of on
lives
In all the land survives,
And makes their memory sweet through sti
expanding agesg
VII.
Thus grandiy, they we mourn, themseIye
console u.s.
And, as their spirits conquer and control u.
We hear from some high realm that lies bc
yond,
The hero voices of the Past respond.
From every State that reached broade
right
Through iery gates Of battle; from the shoe
I 0fold invasions on the Peoples rock
From tribes that stood, in-Kings and Priest,
despite;
/ From graves, forgotten in the Syrian sand,
I Or nam 'ess barows of the Northern strand,
/ Or go ges ofthe Alps and Pyrenees,
Or the dark bowels of devouring seas
Wherever Man log Man sake died. -whereve
Death stayed the march Of upRard-elimbiu
feet,
Leaving their present incomplete,
But through far Futures crowning their en-
deavor,-
Their gbostly voices to our ears are sent,
As when the high note Of trumpet wrings
-Eohan answers from the strings
Of many mute, unfngered instrument.
PIat@an cymbals thrill for US to-day;
The horns Of Sempach in cur echoes play,
And nearer yet, and sharper, and more stern
/ The slogan rings that startled Bannockburn
Till from the field, made green with kindre
deed,
The shields are cIashed in exaltatiou
Above the daunless nation,
Tha: for continent has fought its Runny
mede
VIII.
Yes, for continent. The heart that beats
With such rich blood Of sacrifice
Shall from the topics, drowsed with langui,
heats,
To the blue ramparts Of the Northern ie,
Make feltits pulses all this young world ovei
( Shall thrill, aud shake, and sway
Each land that Dungeons ia the Western da-,
Whatever flag may float, whatever shield msy
covert
With fuller manhood every wind is rife,
In every soil are sown the seeds Of valor,
Since out Of death came forth such bouudhss
lie,
Such ruddy beauty out of anguished palIor!
And that war,wasted arm
Pat forth to lift a sisier-land from harm,
Ere the last blood upon the blade was dred
Shall still be stretched, to shelter and to
guide,
Beyond her borders, answering the need
With counsel and with deed.
Along the Eastern aud the Western wave
Still strong to smite, still beautiful to save!
/ thus, IN her seat secure,
Where now no distant nenaces can reach Ter.
At last in undivided freedom pure,
She sits the, unwilling worlds unconscious
teacher;
And, day by day, beneath serener skies,
! The unshaken pillars of her palace rise,
The Dorie shafts, that lightly upward pr,sg,
And hide in grace their giant massiveness.
/ What though the sword has hewn each cor
ner stone,
And precious blood cements the deep found
alton?
Never BY ether force have empires grown;
From other basis never rose a nationi
For strength is born of struggle, faith o
doubt.
Of discord law, and freedom Of oppression;
We hail from Pisgah, with exultiug shout,
The Promised Lard below US, bright will
sun,
And deem its pastures won,
Ere toll and blood have earned US their pos
session
Each aspiration Of our human earth
Becomes an act through keenest pangs o
birth;
Each force, to bless, must cease to dream,
And conquer life through agony supreme
Each inborn right must outwardly be teste,
By stern material weapons, ere it stand
In tie enduring fabric Of the land,
Secured for those who yielded it, and thos,
who wrestedl
This they have done forus who slumbe
here
Awake, alive, though now so dunbly sleep
ing;
Spreading the board, but tasting not its cheer
Sowing, but never reaping;-
Building, but never sitting in the shade
OF the strong mansion they have made;
Speaking their word of life with might,
tongue,
But hearing not the echo, million voiced,
| OF brothers who rejoiced,
From all our river. wales and mountains flung
So take them, Heroes ofthe songfal Past!
Open your ranks, let every shising troop
/ It's phantom banners droop,
To hail Earth's noblest martyrs, and her las
Take them, o Fatherlard
Who, dying, conquered in thy name;
Aud, With greatful hand,
Inscribe their decd who took away thy blame
Give, for their grandest all, thine insufEcieu
T fame!
Take them, o God! cur Brave,
The glad fulElIers Of Thy dread decree
Who grasped the sword for Peace, and snot,
to save,
And, dying here for Freedom, died for Thee
GRAFTON By THE HON. Or. MOk,
TON,
Delivered at the Dedication of th,