The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-07-17

of liberty. Soon arc seen father
and son side BY side, shoulder to
shoulder to defend what had been
there proclaimed. George Barrett,
OF Mass. fred the first gun. Old
Mother Green made the first uniform
in forty-eight hours from off a Sleeps
back. Mrs. Moilie Pitcher was the
first woman who fired q cannon /;
swabbing and loading it while stand
ing over the body of her dead hus-
band.
'Tis 8 liberty unsung by poets,
And By orators uapralsed;
4 liberty, who has Il and feels II
Cannot be by compulsioa driven,
For, It's a liberty derived from heaven.
Dark days soon found the handful
of patriots; and discoursgements,
poverty aud death came as an ap-
p~roaching foe. Washington was see
out in the woods with bis hands
clasped in prayer in behalf of the
army. la q few days God sent the
SUI with his warm rays and melted
the snow, encouragement taking the
place OF discouragement Benjamin
Franklin, while minister to foreign
lands, was invited 10 dine with the
leading officials when at the table
each one offered 4 toast suitable 70
the occasion. The plenipoten;iarv Of
England. on arriving, compared En-
gland to the sun. The plenipotea-
tiary from France. the moon, think
ing the old philosopher would follow
suit by using some OF the pianetsries.
and thus having secured the two
greatest. ia their exultaiiou awaited
bic. When he arose from his seat,
stretching himself to full height, AID
in g full rouad tone that almost
struck them s~peeebless, said Geo.
Washington. the Joshua Of America,
commanded the srn and moon to
stand still, and they obeyed.n Ore
more important thing in our cou1-
try's history-our flag. Washington
appointed q committee 10 meet on the
Alb day Of June, I7T1, to design and
construct a proper flag for the army;
some having q snake on. etc. Mrs.
Ross, of Philadelphia, was the lady
who did the work for the FIRST stars
and stripes. 1t appears this was the
way the stars and blue field came TO
be put on. After long and continued
conversation in regard to this, they
concluded to 60 out in private pray
eT, it being dusk in the evening, and
as each one looked up into The blue
sky, and saw the stars shooting forth
here and there, inspired with the
beauty CT the bright stars in the blue
sky, they came in simultaneously,
saying, we viii put stars on. Some
at each 1oor, upon entering. ex-
claimed, 1--WE will put stars
ON Hence the stars, always of
while, representing the brightness of
stars, and the blue field, representing
the blue sky. There were thirteen
put on to represent the thirteen origi-
nal States. Ia 1886 the number OF
stars was doubled: now it is within
one Of being tribled, and yet there is
room for as many more. Paul Jones
was the FIRST to unfurl it to the
breeze.
In conclusion, look back over the
past but little over a century: No
Fourth Of July celebrations, no lib
erty, no flag of Christian America
sailing into all ports in the world.
Then was seen the wigwam Of tie
uneiyilized now is seen the poPu.
lous city Of the civilized. Then were
seen columns Of smoke to ascend
from the wigwams, designating their
only living monument; now are seen
church s;eeples rising 10 majestic
height, as monuments to a Christian
nation. Then was heard the war
whoop, calling to battle; now is
heard the church bell, calling the in
habitants to worship the true God.
o. how our fesrts swell with thank
fnlGess to-day for the progress we
have made.
The first delivered west
of the Allegheny mountains were
about two miles from where | was
born, 10 WeStmoreland county.
Pa, by Messrs Powell and McMl-
len, Presbyterian ministers, 10 a c)h.
gregation Of bat Use persons. oil hsv-
ing their guns for fear Of the indians,
their wild savage shouts almost strik-
log terror to their hearts. Now, on
or near this same spot is located a
camp meeting, where can be heard
the shouts Of the sens and daughters
Of the living God, where none dare
modest or make afraid.
/ now panse and ask the question
what will America be ia another
century?
The poor man, though For.uao may frovn for
awhile,
Can find here a refuge from tyrIn,s to Zee
The sunbeaIas Of Joy ALI around him shall smile
For tits the land of his choice. 'tisthc home of tn,
free.
May tho ghost Of fell Famine ne'er stalk our soil
But the plowman still whistle and sing in his slee
And plenty reward every honest mans toll,
lis the land Of orr choice, It's the land Of the free
Wen bow to no power, save One that's on high
Nor bend to a mortaith he suppliint knee;
Our stars and our stripes shall float out to the sky
Unfur elt to the breeze from sea unto ses.