Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-07-27
ACADEMY BELL.

High above the toll and strife
Which vex our daily village life,
Stands in repose our grand old bell,
stern, maj stic. sentinel
Through summers heat and winters cold
1t speaks to all, the young, the old
1t calls the Granger from his pillow,
The Templar TO renew his VOW
With its tongue of iron and its brazen threat =
1t ever speaks joyous note,
Saying. welcome to all"
When in the east the rising sun
One fourth his daily course has run,
As the histling plowboy with joy and mirth,
Goes trudging al ong in the mellow earth,
As the last of the sparkling dewdrops shine,
And the schoolroom clock tells the hour of nine,
Then the bell by tho teachers arm is swung
And loudly procaims with its iron tongue,
Come. scholars. come,
Don't stay at home,
Hasten away TO this temple OF learning, ling,
Thirsting for knowledge hearts should be burn
Usefulness for yourselves. you are earning,
Come one, come all.
Four o'clock The welcome hour
When scholars fly the teachers power.
The schoolroom doors are opened wide,
LesseRs recited, books thrown aside.
The plowboy, asleep on the dusty beam,
Giving repose TO his wearied team
Is reused from his nap by the song and shout
Which announce 10 the town that "schoo Is out
Then the mschisvous boys and romping girls,
With chalk-marked garments and truant curls,
Selling the rope with unfeigned zeal,
Cause the bell to ring out its merriest pfAi,
School tasks are done,
Pleasures begun,
Youth is the season of freedom from sorrew.
Trouble and carewornuess haste not to borrow;
All plot some mischief for use on the morrow,
That will be fun.
Six o'clock and across the grass
The trees their lengthening shadows cast;
The breezes rustling through the leaves
Bid the swallows seek the sheltering caves.
IT'S the hour when our little Templars meet
To hire ha laid
Our grand old bell speaks low and mild
To the tender ear of each listening child,
Come here and learn
Strong drink ~ 5purn,
II in this temple you dwell in security, . .
Bound by our motto of truth, Love and Purity
When your young lives shall be crowned with ma
turity
All will be we'll
IT'S Saturday night, and DER forest and field
The Sabbath stiffness begins TO steal,
The breezes are hushed. and nought IS heard
OF noise of beast, or song of bird,
Save in the farm yard. where higher and bigher,
Swell the notes of the rustic choir.
The honse dogs barking, loud and deep,
The mourniul cry of the newshorn sheep,
The plaiutive moan Of the lowing kline,
The piercing wall of the hungry swine,
In Que glad chorus all unite
To warmly welcome Saturday night
Why does the farmer with extra care,
The hayseed bru sh from his sanburned nairs
And with evening chores left half complete,
Come hurrying along the dusty street
Cease to wonder, nor think tbs strange,
Hes coming TO town to attend the Grange;
And now to greet his listening ear,
The bell re-echoes loud and clear,
Come Patrons all,
Come to our hall,
Here we oppose all railroad oppression,
Fraud and corruption, official transgresslon,
Hasten to aid us in noble mission,
Come one, come all.
Ring on. old bell May your mellow tones
Reach none bat pleasant happy homes
Ring out no license, death to sell,
Ring ont Intemperance, funeral knell,
And ever from your place look down
On peaceful, prosperous, happy town.
Patch Grove, june "a, 1876.