The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-08-03
our CENTENNIAL.
NJ !. NORMAN euNN1soN

.,~.ss OUH eh" AH1S4N4t4daL. 4rt4daL. a yrsv
- s=RY {. NORMAN GUNNIsoN. ''F%F =
r...dom frst her flag unfur,eo ais
Across the land which now is free. .ar.
And shook its bright folds to the world,
A newborn glory for the sea 7 sa'sss'* g
Her sons were faint. her ranks were few, e,.-
IN Ftehie her pOwer and weak her hand;
Ths hsnurselipg up to manhood grew, .-t5ssGgi
And strobe a giant DER the land. a ',s-...s. ,.s
Ana.ov hundred years have fed - s:s ,tssg. -.
Since first that banner on the sky a
y.ssSlnfi0us tars and stripes outspread, 5fi' u y
4 sign Of hope and triumph nigh, e.ss slss,ss.se,
1ts cinstellation, burning bright.
= Hss gained new stars from osher1spheres, eg
And caught the dawning Of the light s,a..ss..,
which flames along the endless years.
Tia sons have brought the lightning down,
And harnessed it to do their will; o}A
It, forts ip every harbor r i5own, nm sss~ a
IL p6Veris felt on land and Sea {.
rs commerce sweeps across the tide, =.
And millions Of the brave and free ttst.sS
yeatlebenesth its shelser wids.a fsSa. .ssg. :
Theveary centuries efYete p ai9si 8 gs4s
Had grown through ye rs Of suffered wrong; E
Before the march Of Freedom's feet.
The Western world broke into song s&s
re shrissian's cross. the tapered spire. 3fis
Roe meath the t,uch of LabOrss hand,i ss.sse Z.
And glimmered in the sunset, fire. -.
The desert waste garden grew ss,s. xs.-.a..A
Il prairie land. in tangled fen;
The world, ast0nished, paused to view aT 81
The grand creative power of men; Ii Ae
That blessed the land with Freedoms ray.
And forty milions hail the sight
That breaks upon our eyes to-day.
The Old World brings her tribute here 81 .
foisy before the New Worlds shrine; ~.
The tropics offering sincere-.rA,4 a.ss. -.
tts wealth Of olives and OF wine
Islaid before our feet day. II sd s4zss5FFs
0happy omen, blessed sight!
Where shone but dimly Freedoms ray, = r
The world TRANSPORTED lies in light s@.
Ons hundred years of Freedoms reign. frs -.
One hundred years Of war and peace! .sse
Agoiden century again, >
Courageous and blossoms with increase. Sss !.
Swift a. the wind our c0uriers fly
Across the land. from sea to sea; Afe
hnorthefna air ,son tropic sky, .s.s5 sssszsv7s :
Streams out the banner Of the free. s.
And nestling meath each stripe and star,
Atlantic waves, Pacific foam, 90
Viewing tie nations from far, q, II
Shouts 20 their coming: Welcome home!"
WelcoMe4 COlumbia's arms spread wide.
SheAfande beside each busy mart, -
And, thrilled with Joy and touched with pride.
She ieldsthe whole worl to her heart. -
NO OOuU OF 1eCt, no Tie OF creed,
Can make or mar her generous plan;
The only plea that all must plead .,4,
The common brotherhood of man. sa
The diamond from Brazilian mines 80
Cleans here by Africs wealth of gold,
And silver from the long inclines >
Where Col0rad0's wealth is told. u
And Asia lays her treasures down, esass - 3ss
Japan and India appear ,se s.,5e8 sss ss.
Bearing their offerings to crown
.Ihs fullnes6 of. our hunlredth year, .sFsesE
Orient landl where through the palms. y L.,
With ceaseleSs tone from morn till night, Y
Tha spicy breezes hymn their psalms, q rz
God give you our boon Of light! = I.
Ard make you free as we are free,s s.T.-sss.
Ihe West may reach across the sea s @Y
20 join iD your Centennial year. sd
Your hundred years OF freedom past.
.sfour thousand years Of peece to come,
Unbroken by the warlike blast -.
" trumpet, or the rolling drum.
af T~FEa sssE - sssf SIS 54
land Centennial to -dayl ..s,.s
God guard tnee until time shall cease!
His blessings hover DER thy way, M -
And crown thee with His perfect peacei
O blood bought landi Thy rocks and hills
:. Are FreedOm,s birthplace: and the arch
OF heaven, that bends above thy rills,
Is vocal with Times grandest march.
For down the coming hundred years
hundred million unborn men - So &
Close up each gap, where now appears > ...,
A vacant spot BY hill or glen.
A hundred thousand homes shall rise.
With marts of trade, with lifted spires.
And in the light OF Freedoms eyes -
Forever burn thy altar fires! sss-s ~ .ssf
-Nev York Clipper.