Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-01-09
THE CARRIERS ADDRESS
TO THE PATRONS OF THE
DAILY & WEEKLY INDEPENDENT
JANU Any 1sr., lez5-

1t is midnight in mid winter,
And the stiffness of the grave,
Broods like birds of ill-omen,
Over woodland, hill and wave,
While the star lamps all are lighted,
In the dome of pearly blue,
Gathered there the tabled monsters,
Crowding all the sky in view,
Stop a moment now in silence,
Stop while their mystic course,
Old Orion and Perseus,
Ram and Bull and Winged Horse
Aries with precious burden,
With his fairy golden fleece,
Taurus bearing fair Europa,
Over land and over seas,
Old Aariga with his chariot,
And Pegasus winged steed,
Fav'rite of the gentle muses.,
On whose back with pipe and reed,
While the glowing train is waiting,
In the cold and icy air,
Sits my muse and sings the story,
OF the dead and buried year
These the numbers that noted,
These the words he sadly sung,
Words historic, language truthful,
Honest words of heart and tongue
First there comes CLEAN of trouble,
And decanters fairly crash;
For saloons can never live when
Women makes the " brandy smash -
As apostles cast out devils,
Prayed they round the rum and gin,
And then exercised the spirits,
STAYING kegs and barrels in.
Next the Brooklyn scandal rising,
Like a demon filled with lust
Throws its slime across the pathway
OF a high and holy trust,
Till the fairest fame is shattered,
And befouled an honored name;
True or false-no matter whether,
Naught can eer blot out the shame.
Here my muse then changed her story,
Told about elections late,
How the outs" were all triumphant,
How the ms accept their fate
Various were the reasons given,
For each candidates defeat,
But no doubt that votes were lacking,
To secure the cherished seat.
Thus while mankind earthly grovels,
Science takes her earthly fight,
Traces Venus cross the sun disk,
Then the comets track at night.
But my muse can't feed on comets,
Rather dry the milky way,
So again she futters earthward,
Talks bout things that better pay.
Now the question great is money,
Gold or greenbacks which shall be,
While the lab'rer praysto Congress,
And is either glad to see
Statesmen great are for expansion,
Statesmen learn are strong for gold
Each with sophistry and logic,
Does his policy unfold.
Still are plenty for imitation,
Plenty love the yellow ore,
Some contracting, some expanding,
Always mingled rich and poor.
But Wen leave the money matters,
As we can expand them much,
And again with fancy pencil,
On our city limits touch.
Here we see city's progress,
Martinsbnrg has grown a pace,
And old fogies all are distanced,
Who have dared impede her race.
We have heard of heavy taxes,
What ruin by and by,
How the values all would lower,
But results refute the lie.
Our improvements are all modern,
Best and latest of the time,
All new buildings better modelled,
Gas and water pure and prime.
There the fair grounds with their finish
Now our county people 8 pride,
Once old fogies tried to hinder,
Once did tauntingly deride.
But old fossils are converted,
Now attend our crowded fair,
And will even on committees,
Strive to get the lion 8 share.
But still more grand improvement,
Grander still than all before,
Is the railroad new that binds US,
To the old Potomac's shore.
Honor then to those who planned 1T
And to those who brought it through
For it gives the farmer markets,
Better than before he knew.
All my muse is somewhat frightened
Alta sight to muses. strange,
What can mean those hay-seed fsllowsT
Some one whispers, "thats a grange
Watching closely some ! see there,
From their Tuscarora farms,
Headed by the grand old Cyclops,
With his corn-cob coat of arms,
There are N and I as patrons,
Also S and B and X,
And the emblem of the order,
Is a bat band made of hay.
But my muse again is troubled,
Troubled that an honorcd name
Must again contend in public,
On the battlefield of fame.
One who long had sought the quiet
OF peaceful private life.
But the public could not spare him.
Made him face again the strife.
So like Cincinnatus aged,
He reluctantly did yield,
And again to save the country
Left his piow stand in the field.
Bravely led his force to battle,
Put his enemy to fight
Martin Golhs and Davis Vandals,
Not a Radical in sight.