The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1875-10-22
BY JOHN d. WHITE.

In far off times while yet the Earth
stood IN its infant ruling p0w,r,
And Knwledge like blinded thought
Knew not the pathway of its power
The LaW was known by tyrants might,
And aoae would dare dispute its Right
The Scribes and learned men of old
Who wrote the Laws on tables bright,
Inscribed thereon tlrir Rulers powers,
Tho Might was Wrong. and Evil right,
For Soul fed passions led them on
From Baal's gates to Baals throne.
They deemed the world passing dream,
The Heavens a fable God thought.
They brought their wines, aud murmured
songs
That in their Maudlin dreams they d
wrought,
Their Erring hearts would only lead
To SIN their god and SELF their creed.
Az Time passed on in Wingless flight.
And left the gates of thought ajar
From out the garden scented East,
Came knowledge like guiding star,
1t wrecked their Idols made of Clay,
And dashed their baser thoughts away,
And dove like Reason conquered all,
And DER the baltlements afar,
The Angel Peace his mantle spread
With Holier Light that conquered War,
AMI held that Nations power at will,
And bid theI tempest hearts be still.
Where'er the light of Thought is known
Where er that Knowledge holds it's sway,
The Holy Banner Guard ofpower
Will ever guide the rightiIl way.
lis Light that rules the subject mind,
And leaves its baser thoughts behind
In these bright days when Power is worth,
And faith stands graphing with the mind,
When nations bow before the throne
OF Real forth. if we but fluid
The dim and hazy lines that dwell
Tween God AID ndmlmon we do yell
hold that Fame is but myth,
phantom of a storm tossed mind,
That doing well, upholdng Right
Are gems of worth to all mankind,
And lead the way-if rightly s'riven,
Within the portal gates Of Heaven
And later days have shown the power
OF mans own thought. The gems that lie
within our Souls are Heaven wrought
hHu inc OOu image, cannot uIe.
The Press and Telegraph combined
Alone, can show the work of Mind.
And We as men Of days 10 come,
Must not sit idle, for we see
In life's great Vineyard much to do
To leaf us to Prosperity.
A hundred years from now they'll say,
We were but useless drones to-day
No fairer land beneath the sun
Than plain old Georgias bissful cline,
No better field for future power
Than round her home made affairs shine.
And every patriots heart will ihrob,
Win love OF Home, 10 think of "C0Jb."
SO nerved by hope of future Worth
And strong desire for Knowledge pure,
We joined together though but few
And weak our numbers yet as sure
As Abram heard his God at Ur
With Faith and Hope we'll conquer Fear.
TONIGHT upon the bright Threshold
of yet another year TO come
We stand and looking Ger the past,
We see the labor we have done,
And proudly claim our lanrrls won
As bright as e'er the sun shone on.
If there be any here whose thoughts
Are but as mist upon the face
OF some dark Valey-aud cannot
In our own workings Zee one trace
OF Usefulness i bid Them ,cda
For Time will prove their Doubts own fate,
IT'S Truth and Knowledge claim the sway
And lead us to Eternal Day.
And then when Time for US have flown
And nanhood's noon Of life is past
And looking backward through thu years
Well see the Right triumph at last,
A Wreath Of silver leaves # Peace
Will crown our lives of Usefulness,
Aud angel whispers floating near
Will lead us up to Holiness.