The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-06-14

and to victory.
Here in this quiet and secluded spot
let them rest, for their work is done, and
the great task of their lives is completed.
The last great duty of the patriot has been
fully and faithfully performed, and in fu-
ture years we will bring our children to
these tombs, and swear them upon these
holy altars; hither, as to the Delphic Or
acles, will repair the old and young, to
consecratc themselves anew to their coun-
try, and to offer up grateful homage for
the rich blessings secured to them at so
terrible sacrifice.
We do not mourn their fall, they died
as they would have wished, and well it
may be said of them
How sleep the brave who sink to rest.
By all their countrys wishes blest;
When spring with dewy fingers cold,
Returns to deck their followed mould.
She then shall deck swceter sod
Than fancys feet have ever tro&'
By fairy hands their knell is rung
By forms unseen their dirge is sung;
Their honor comes pilgrim gray,
To obless the turf that wraps their clay.
And freedom shall a while repair,
To dwell a weeping hermit there
They fell fighting in the front of the
battle for country they loved which had
its origin in the bosom of God and have
always been the peculiar favorites of heav-
en-. These swords of these heroes have
won the battle for the free, we tell their
doom without sigh, for they are free.
dom's now, and forever, some Of the few,
the immortal names. that are not born to
die"
They were their country's martyrs, and
On fanie's eternal camping ground
Their silent tents spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
The bvouac of the dead"
But while we strew these flowers on
the graves of those we know, and whose
names are chiseled in the marble and gran
ite around us, let us not forget those who
were buried where they fell, and whose
graves are to-day unknown and unhonor-
ed; upon every field where rebellion
reared its horrid front, their bones are
scattered; wherever duty and country
called, and danger were thickest, there
lies mouldcring sons Of Vermont's most
noble sons. Thanks to to the kind hearts
and willing hands which conceived and
constructed yonder beautiful monument,
so appropriately dressed and dedicated to
them. Let us now, and at all times,
bring forth the sweetest flowers and rich
est garlands, with which, in Imagination,
to deck the unknown mounds beneath
which moulders their sacred ashes.
The names of all these brave men shall
be known and read in all coming time,
and the very earth shall be sensible Of
praise where their bodies are deposited.
Here among their honored graves :" the
muses. shall observe the night, and watch
ing, trim their lighted lamps to the morn.
ing's dawn"
Ask me not the names of these noble
heroes. The muses. in after times shall
tell you of them, and the future birds
shall WOO them to their songs. The verse
which shall be so happy as to embrace
the name of one of these shall be immor-
tai.
To you who have lost your sons and
your brothers in this contest for the life
of the Republic, Iwould say dismiss from
your minds every shade of grief, and in
the midst Of your sorrow and your mourn
ing, thank God that you have been ac-
counted worthy to make such sacrifice for
your country; mourn not for them but
guard well the priceless treasure they
have committed to your charge.
But, my comrades, amid all these out
bursts of patriotic feeling and holy rever-
ence for our fallen brothers, let us not
forget the liviug-let us take heed that
we have other duties to perform, besides
to build their sepulchres, to decorate their
tombs. There is, it seems to me, more
substantial offering demanded of us to-
day, than floral gifts, touching and beau
tiful though they are when in the very
morning of life those heroes took their
lives in their hands and went forth to
battle for God and the right, you prom
ised, if they fell, to provide for the loved
and cherished ones they left behind.
Havo you carefully and religiously minis
tered to the wants of the widow and the
orphan, and done all in your power to
smoothe the rough path along which they
have been called to tread ? God grant
that you have, and may continue to do SO,
as long as they may be spared to receive
the gratitude and blessings Of a generous
and gallant people.
And, M friends, as year after year,
you recall, with gratitude, the final vic.
tory which kept our nation one, and
speak, with loving praise, the names of
the great leaders whose wisdom aud valor
guided our armies to that victory, beg
you never to forget the patient endurance
and sublime courage of our private sol.
diers, which alone sustained those leaders,
and made that victory possible.
These men left home, and wives and
little ones, as dear to them as yours are