Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-04-12
Old Oaatle Rock |

Old Castle Rock
see thes In Altthy natchless grandeur,
And my soul Is Rwed In reverence 10 that
Almighty power that formed thee and reared
Thy head among the ei=udC;
And rightly art thou named, Old Castle Rock.
Sure the Almighty was thy architect! NAt &l
And this vast pie, these spires and casteiiated
Walls, proclaim the hanaiwork OF God.
And 0od has stamped hts seal upon thee,
Thou nonstrous, impertahable mystery, tH
Thou gigantic, vonderfCl Castle Rock.
Old Castle Rock
Iss Aea.d q thee, bat yet, like sheba's queen,
The half was never tod me--thy greatness
Aud thy glory s 80 profoundly great;
But now my eyes doth see thee for myself
! zee thy massive walls, thy turrets eess
my spires, thy battlements and base SEQ
And see Thy cornice and thy cupola,
And see the placid river flowing there
Most gertly turning. flowing at thy base
And there thon staaaesG, and wilt ever STAND
pefying Storm and tempest. thundsrholts
And fire. Thou heedest not the fierce tornado
But casts Its fury headlong at thy feet.
Yes, God did rear Thy granite walls, and laid
Far down upon the everlasting rocks
Thy basement, thy foundation frm
Old Castle Rock
l love thee in all thy silent maj esty;
And, as wondering gaze upon thee,
And view the hanaiwork and masonry
OF God. my soul 10 humbIed now. in view
or that Almighty power that reared this massive
Column 20 its dizzy height.
Sure, he's fool that says there is no God
How old art thou, Old Castle Rock Tell me
If when the mornipg sters together sang,
And shouts Of joy through all creation rang
Vert thou in old Grant County standing then,
And is thy age co-equs. thus with men
Or dost thou claim isS more recent birth
Born of earthquake, raised from out the eartLl
Did Nosh's GOOD around thy summit lave,
When all but him weresburied meath the wsyey
Or was 1t at our SesiorT tragic fate,
These rocks we're rent kRd your existence datesi
Thou'rt old, know thy walls aud root gray;
Thou ct seen earths kings and empires pass away.
Long the white man s feet these des Irts trod,
Thy lofty spires were pointing up to God.
Here Indian mothers o. their infants sang.
Prom base 10 turret their clear voices rang
The wild deer raised his head and listened 10 the song
Prom hill to hill the echo danced along
Here Indian children round thy ramparts strayed,
Danced az thy feet, apd In thy shadow PLAYED.
The rad mans passed away. the white mans come,
And neaT thee now Is beard the grist mills hum
No longer viii you UNDECIDED stand;
Your fame shall spread throug bout the land
Old Castle Rock, thy oater walls I've SEEN
I trust you've got some splendid halls within,
TO whieh you'll show ine when again come
But nou tbs Winter. aud hasten home
When leaves shall gov and Spring birds round thee
sing,
hope 20 visit thee, with friends bring.
Then will we enter, If we find the door,
And all ihy halls and parlcrs will explore
Perhaps vast treasure all thy store house fills
Brought y the red men from cling hills.
Here Indian warriors, bent strif, aud wrong,
Joined the wild whoop, the dance, and loud song
And here, perchanee. did wars red clangor cease.
Twas here the warrior smoked the pipe of peace.
Here Indian lovers woosd, the knot tied,
And here the Indian maid became a bride.
Bnt nov leave thee tul another day,
And turning homeward must wend my way.
30 whom we come, observe the golden rule,
And open wide thy entering vestibule.
Then win we through thy halls and parlors flock,
And sDg thy praise, Mighty Castle Rock.
Lancaster March 10 1870. l. DURAND.