National Republican., 1878-07-04
INDEPENDENCE Day.
Thirty Years Ago-Dedicatcd To tho Oldest
Inhabitants' Society.

Years many-long ago II was,
When we were merry boys
That Independence Day began,
With such a roaring noise;
The day began Il might have saidD
Almost the night before
For $50 assurance TO make surc),
Our merry squad twice fourl
or Jolly playmates, biyouackcd,
Along tho front porch hall.
On blankets, In merry roc
Undrcssed, that whom the call
From quaintol clock, with full moon faco,
Rang out the midnight peal;
Like soldiers ready for surprise
To guard each others veal
We cautiously could break up camp
On tlptoe sh-l so still
Disturbing none that soundly slept
Who often had their I'LL
OF this same pleasure. .ycars before.
In merry youthful days
And so II was that wo prepared,
With ardor all ablaze,
To celebrate the grand old Fourth.
AtPeep.o day you recollect
The blunderbuss,'and King'sarm, too.
Were charg'd for you aud me
The muklles rested on the fence,
flints pick'd, aud pans all primed.
Pull'd trigger! Bang oh, such kick
Hurrah-the boys all chim'd:
Oh, wasn't Il glorious. jolly fun,
When heels roll'd over head.
With jacket smooch'd and trousers torn,
All In the garden bed
Who cared for dirt, or smut that then
Bcgrim'd our face snd eyes,
The glorious Fourth, you know. my friend.
lts glory never dies
And when the sun, with smiling faco
First tppd the hills with gold
How rang the bells with merry peal.
The chime 30 often tplld:
Twas then the cannon thundcrd out,
In echo. far, aud widc
bold salute for every state
With liberty to guide:
Aud chantlCloer, with scarlet crest
And lusty, tappiug wing;
Would mount the fence and shril proclaim,
I'm here, thS Freedom Kingr'
And then we spat upon our hands,
POur'd powder in-y0u know,
Then mix'dSt into solid shape,
For nlses-Just like dough-
Tho little cannon quick brought out,
Rammed home the cartridge well,
Put Oil the nisc-then touch'd, and runI
Ph.ik.lz! Pshaw, well never tell,
That IN the touch.hols there was din,
Flash In the pan and 50
Some ono would cautiously creep back,
with match rctouch. and ".
Not matches such As nov are uscd,l
But those with steel and flint
And tndcrboS. with rugI well burnt
And birthstone, with pine splint;
Aud how the stars and stripes ran up.
With pennOn streaming long,
Prom masthead truck, aud wide yard.arm,
On spar, and rigging strong;
From low.thatch'd roof and tow'ring spire,
Der gateway, window, door.
The glorious flag II folds umfurl'd,
With cannons cchOing roar.
Twas thus the glorious Fourth began,
Years gone, so long ago,
When we were boys; but thon II seems
As though 'twere but Just now.
How eagerly the morning meal
We swallowed, well you know,
With appetite and relish keen,
And faces oil aglow-
For now the hrst salute was o'er.
with tidy clothes, and clean,
We: In procession, old and young.
March'd to the common green
To hear tn Grafton from such men
As Webster, Adams, Clay,
With Everett. Choatc, md many more
Who now have pass d away.
Tho Declaration always read
And glorious anthem sung
by choir and congregation, too,
For Joy with heart and tongue;
which being DER, we march'd again
Around the common green
With stirring sound of drum and hfc
To SEQ and % be seen;
Aud then the noon salute peald out
With bells and cannOn's boom,
TOrpedOcs. crackers, kissing fuse.
And everything had room;
Then dinner came. upon the grass
The Clean, white. tidy cloth
Was spreGi for all, none could refuse
Good cheer and welcome both;
With buns. nnd beans, nice ham sandwlchcd,
Hard cider, dnughnut, cheese;
EcCstcra, pref aTcl at home,
Each one felt quite At ease;
A clear, cool drLtIsht from well or spring
with lemonade, spruce beer. or milk
In cooling stream mmCrNd;
Or At the pur.lng, limp!d brook,
Were We flll OFT cnticcd
To 60 nnd scoop up with our hands
drlnk-but never iced,
For VIII" Hci thought Of having leo
On Independence bay
By keeping that which winter mado
Would summer melt away;
Molasscs candy by the yard
Or pan Of gingerbread.
with harl.b6Ild Cggs-c!He cent Opieoe-
In plenty could be had;
And r,ch, with poor, and old, and young,
PartOOk OfthClr great Joy
On this, the nHt.Ou's holiday,
As yet without alloy;
For mover as the years rOltd round.
On Independence bay.
Was known a Time OF cloud, or storm.
Or sun 10 hiGc his roy:
Aud though twas warm, II mattcr'd not
With rlgOr, nerve. and will.
by 80 participating. all
with pleasure, pleasing hll
In cooling shade, on grassy mound,
Meath arblr. tree, or bow'r.
The old aud young with grave and gay,
Wntch'd for the sunset hour.
Wien once again the cannons peal,
with muskct aud iusee,
And merry tells. with tow ring flags,
All told Of liberty;
But though the etwilisht fingered slow
Behind tile setting sun.
And timid bind Its nest on sought,
The day was not yet done;
For as the calm portends the storm
In suliry summers ray,
So In the lull. 'twlxt light aud dark,
On this the nations day,
The crtckCtS chirp, with beetlof hum,
And cooling turtle.doye,
with lowing kine and droning bee,
Was heard, as hOnGward move
Old age aud childhood, hand In hand,
Both wearicd with tho day,
Yet telling Ger the Ofi.tOld tale
III grandpa's wOndrOus way
OF Washington and Bunker lIill,
Grape, canister. and shell,
Advance retreat, and sudden flank.
That then their lot beicl
But not with youth and manhood 20
Hnrk bursting IN the air,
The kissing rockets, high nlot,
III graceful curves appear
With hcry trnin and sparkling shower
Of yariegatcd hue;
And Roman candles, Bengal lights,
To close the days Rlicu.
For not I'LL midnight hour was past
Had ardOr wcarlOd grown;
But ammunition gone, twas clear
Twcrc wise 70 part, and own
Another patriotic day,
4 nations jubilee,
That oil had celebrated well,
And let the record be.
80 then, reluctantly, the thrOng
Dispersed with gladsomo hearts,
In various comments on the day
And pyrOtcChnic arts,
Each to their happy homes, and rest,
That tired nature Graves;
Where mind and body overtaXcd,
Recupcratng, saves
Disease; aud lull'd TO sleep. iu dreams
RcitcmtCS the scenes
So ardeutly enjoyed by all
In variOns ways aud means,
Aud thus 1t was long years ago,
In good Old.ih,hiOn'd way,
That menry N.ls OF happy times
On Independence Day.
Parties Who Contemplate Leaving
The city for the summer should fst supply then
'Glves with shoes and slippers at H. L. Strasburuer