The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-06-23

truths that wake. to perish never.n In
our lDmost soul, We feel how full of bless
ing Is their presence; how teemingly
fruitful, if we but will it so, for a might.
ier, far exceeding, more glorious and
beneicently harmonious futurei How
fraternizing, how hallowing is their
influenced
Lowly we bend, and ask blessing and
a benizon, ere We hurry on, in the voy-
age before us.
1t is in such spirit that we meet Won
to-day. Like the worn and jostIed
members of some large family at Christ.
mas tide, who have almost unlearned the
season, as one of merriment, a note Of
welcome comes for us, at the old loved
homestead. How the old tie TUGS at
our heart! Our ears catch the. gieefui
chimes. Soon bursts out the once famil-
liar carol. "Behold 1 bring you good
tidings of great JOY" Is this for usf Can
we be includeda [Cries of Yes! Yes!1 The
dear old chant rings out agsin-and all
our misgivings melt away as in jubilant
strain is waited to heaven, "Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace good.
will to men, Yes, we comel True. in
our hands we bring no precious vase. in
whose rich loan flowers the costly exotic.
We come in homely galb, and with
broken cup. but in that cup, is sol |
which yonder column will recognize-it q
from old Moultrie's sand bank. [cheersl
You shall plant therein the olive branch.
Old Bunker Hill will catch the gra-
clous dews as they fall from heaven, and
gently drop them to nourish its growth.
and under his statel- shaft it shall find
shelter from the scorching sum- (pro-
4.
per In which we meet you to-day-even as
in olden Christmas tide-and we will
closely gather around your honored Yule.
log, and as Its fragrant smoke curls up.
tell DER with you, in garrulous gossip, of
the grand old days hundred years ago.
when in bloody sweat and travail of soul
were laid the foundations of this poodIy
heritage, alike for US and for You. for
South as for North, for West a. for East
and from whose lofty towers shall be
forever flung Its standard of loye waving
in the breezes Of Heaven, and inscribed.
80 that all afar off may read, "Come unto
me all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and will give you rest"
And now, my friends when this hal
lowed jubilation is DER, aud we go back
to our homes, what message shall we car
~ to our reverenced old mothera Never
were her sons prouder of her. Never
clung they with more flIal closeness to
her, than now in the day of her adversity.
Corruption has hsrried her misrule has
revelledl over her. but there she stands.
patient and undaunted, in all her matron.
ly purity; never more worthy of our love.
than as unrufded amid her assailants. she
gathers up the courtly folds of her robe
In majestic sef-rcctitude, her stately ave
beaming with the fires of an unstained
birthrlght, and casting to the dust, bv
Its trapsfigured light, the approaches of
insult and dishonor. To her ear. the
National harp has oft been made IN
sound, "like sweet bells tangled. ont of
tune and harsh" But there is a chord. An
that harp, golden chord, which still
vibrates In her heart, musical as Apol.
los lutte" charming as the harp of Or.
pheus. 1t IS the chord of these aneient
memories; it is the string in that harm.
which runs from Moultrie to Bunker Hill.
(Applause. 1t is the kew which
struck at Concord and Lexington, vi,
brates to Eutaw and Kings Mountain.
Shall we tell her that you have struck
that chord, and that you have struck IL
with the note, and the music. and the
trueness OF its ancient songa If so then
lndeedshall this days celebration cause
Bunke Hill to be treasured nm "a the
shadow OF great rock, bringing rest.
and refreshment, and hope, to pilgrims
worn, and heavy, and weary.