Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-07-13
THE HERALD.
POEM.
Written for the Centennial Celebra
tiOn at Bloomington, Wis.
BY C. N. HoLFoRD,

By c. N. HoIF0RD
A hundred years And now completes the hand
Upon the worlds great clock cycle grand,
Marked with great deeds; yet in the ages fight
A tale that g told-a brief watch in the night.
In Natures endless round it is no more
Than one short day, with many such before.
Successive seasons are but halfhours all
arked by the snow-fakes and the rose-eaf's silent
fall.
Tut not with Natures calm, unyarying plan
Events recurring mark the years OF man;
But ever, as successive centuries pass,
More atfully and faster through the glass
OF human destiny still stream the sands.
Upon the human horologe the hands
Irregularly, but still faster run.
Marking each era closed or each begun,
More frequent still, and still with louder clang,
cal forth the larum bells that in Lies watch
towers hang.
A hundred years To-day we see
Full rounded up the century
A glorious day Well have We come.
With roar of gun and roll OF drum,
TO honor with high jubilee,
The last day OF the hundredth year,
Since rising over doubt and fear
Our sires proclaimed our country free.
Now turn we back along Times way
Look back from this to that great day
Along the Empires westward track,
Go from the Mississippi back
To that old Quaker city there
By the calm-gliding Delaware.
What means this tumult in the town:
The people thronging up and down
With eager words and restless pace?
In the rapt look on every face
The march of great events you tracei
Swcls the low murmur Of their speech
Like wayc-beats on the distant beach,
Adown the length of Chestnut Street
And round the State House swell and beat
The human waves; within those walls
The strong men whom the country calls
To council hold their high debate,
Whose close shall seal the Lands high fate
And here, strong leader mid the brave
Whove chosen freedom or the grave,
Stands dauntless Adams. Mid the clash
OF stern.debate his words outfash
Like glowing sparks from flint and steel,
Rckindling all the fear-quenched zeal
vi patriot DeartS less brave ana stout,
Reviving hope, dispelling doubt.
For even here are many found
Alarmed to stand on such high ground,
And hl,rl with such lofty tone
Such challenge 'gainst proud England's throne.
So, stubborn through the long debate,
They hang, q millstone's constant weight,
Upon the unbowed souls of those
Who'd venture all, be t win or lose.
Amid this clash OF warning thought,
Forebodings chill, exhortings hot,
Is missed the tall, commanding form
OF him whose hand stirred up this storm,
Nor stayed to guide or quell it then.
Silent his voice whose magic pen
Had sketched in lines that flaming ran
The Greater Charter of the Rights of Man.
The mighty thoughts that crowding hung
Reluctant on tn unready tongue,
Yet from his pen came clear and strong,
Endowed to live through ages long.
'Tis done! the world-famed act is passed!
The word is spoke the die is castl
Opposing doubts and fears give way;
Out rings each loud approving "Aye!"
The words defiant, high and bold,
Echoing around the chamber rolled.
Nor could that mighty impulse long
Be pcnt in walls, though thick and strong
Fen as electric currents run,
Or light-waves rolling from the sun,
So swiftly through the swaying masses,
From heart to heart the impulse passes.
Their murmuring voices seemed before
Like dying waves upon a far-of shore;
But instant now the tumult Grows
As when the sudden tempest blows,
And breakers thunder wild and high.
And screaming seabirds DER them fly.
And soon the clamor of the bells
The joyous tumut grandly swcls,
And yet deeper stronger note
Comes from the lannon's iron throat.
Nor is the jubilee at all
Qucnchcd by the nights descending pail.
From street and home, from hut and hall,
The bonfircs bright, the tapers' light
Flash out defiance to the night
And wrap in one broad, rudy glare
The earth beneath, the uppcr.air
The waters of the Delaware
This scene SO joyous and so bright
Was but transient CLEAN of light,
That, while the storm-clouds gathered black,
Through one small rift moment shone,
And then the murky folds swept back,
Thrice blacker and more threatening grown.
Above the dark, foul fens of wrong
The storm of wrath had gathered long.
The waiting nations saw the flash
Worldwide and agc-long rolled the crash
OF that first bolt at Lexington.
Then smoked to heaven the blood Of seven
Too few for tight, too proud for flight
Heroes and martyrs every one.
But soon for every dying moan
Their foes by scores in blood atone.
Down burst the gathered hate of years
Upon the covering grenadicrs,
From copse and wall the rifle ball,
Aimed fair and true, vindictvc flew;
The uniforms of gaudy hue,
Prone on the roadside or the plain,
OF blood and dust bore darker stain
But blackcr grew the war-storm's frown
From Mystc's slope TO Bunker's crown
Stretched long, low mounds of earth and hay
Behind the Yankee farmers lay.
The foemcn's lines were long and fair
Mid golden lace and scarlet there,
Flashed bayonet and sword-blade bare.
With steady sweep they onward came
sudden burst Of sulphuroua flame
Fringcd the low works with livid glow
And laid the bristling red ranks low,
AS Augustus flame-winged hurricane
Sweeps down the ranked and bladed grain
Thrice upward came the rallying foe
Thrice blazed that fierce and deadly glow.
Then DER the shot-torn parapets
Swarmed British swords and bayonets.
The farmers backward fighting went
To them defeat and victory blent.
Driven out from Boston with defeat
Then southwark sailed the British fleet.
At Charleston through the long June day
Was barred the believing squadrons way
The war-ships bayed like bahied dogs
Before the stout palmetto logs
Vainly and long; then they withdrew
With many shattered hull and crew.
Twas such successive triumphs gained
That courage reused and hope sustained.
Dull were the patriots heart and eye
Who could not in these things descry
That on his cause the hand divine
Had set its bright, approving sign.
Deep need had every heart and hand
In that immortal little band
The sponsors of the newborn land,
For all the zeal that triumph fired
And all the strength success inspired.
High need for an auspicious hour
To challenge England's wrath and power.
Well for the infant nation then,
And well for Freedom and for men,
That the die was cast beyond recall
Fer was revealed what should befall
Eor almost while the ink WNs wet