The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-19
FROM SUN TO SUN.
by BENZ. II. TAYLOR.

Take terrestrial globe with all the modern
equipments for measuring the days the nights
and the twilights; for tracing the route OF
the sun and the path Of the shadow; Tor
catching Anywhere IN the fine web OF meriu-
ian lines and parallels. Fix your eye on
Alaska. from whose rugged shore Campbell's
wolf has been raising It's long howl FOR
many a year. You are not looking beyond
the border of the United States The most
beautiful flag in all this world, save the white
banner of perpetual peace, floats over It. lou
have not gone from home.
Swing the globe slowly around until Alaska
reddens IN the full blaze of the setting sun.
Now cross the continent to the coast OF Maine
The flag is touched up with the light OF the
rising sun. The globe has not moved hair,
1t is closing day in Alaska; 1t is opening day
in Maine. 1t is one country and one sun.
We used to think of San Francisco ~ a
CITY on the Westernmost edge of this eminent
domain, but now we know II Is rs lar from
Alaska as 1t Is from the sounding pines OF
Name, that, by this measurement, San fran
cisco Is in the center of the Great Republic !;
that the sun never sets upon these United
States We have heard the wisdom OF pur
chasing Alaska questioned in many quarters
but behold, its utility Is made manifest at
last II is spot wherein the mighty sun
nav halt a moment ere he makes splendid
lift above the woods and fields Of Name.
We hear something now and then, OF the
British music. whose morning drum beats
round the world" | think II is grander
thing to say that the sun could not get
. chance to set in the United States until Alaska
wore the stripes and stars.
pacinc's waters turn to wine,
The ripe red sun is glowing down,
With Orient pomp tie gloomy pine
Wears rubies in its puny crown,
And shadows on its column brown.
With click and stroke Of slender oar
The fishers time their shorcward turn,
And pulling for Aleutian shore,
Where duskyred and wa.ch-fres burn,
They trail their glittering spells astern
III.
see them slide, as petrels skim,
The CLASSY scallops OF the deep,
hear their wild barbaric hymn
Re-sung by pale faced cliff and steep.
As children sing themselves to sleep
".
4'Good night" in voices warm from lips,
$1,000. night good. might" the girls reply
1Good nj ght" from canOn's cold eclipse,
'Good night" again from skill and sky,
And day Is dead and voices die.
The pickering sea.blrds seek the crag
In dotted lines of hazy white.
The Out post lowers the Stellar Flag
Damp with the mlsts OF sheeted night,
A gray and ghostly Carmclite.
'Tis sunset on Aaskas rocks
Aleutiau Isle and Behring's Bay,
'Tis sunrise where Atlantic knocks
The coast of Maine in rugged play,
And doncs of forest shed the day.
VII.
Sunrise In Maine, The starry wing
Takes digit at morning sun and glow,
From tapering mast salutes the King
Whose parting footprints plainly show
Alaska land a breath ago
And burning yet like blood and snow.
Ihcar the axemens clock tick beat,
hear the twang VI breakfast-horn,
The Yankee Doodle In the street,
Aud Yankee Doodle In the corn;
lone day not dead another born,
r Good NIGHT is married to good morn
All hail. thou Sun magnificent
And hail. we Flag and Flame well met
From Orient to Occidcnt!
These Colors, great Light, are met
With spendors OF thy golden set
And Yesterday is lingering yet.
X
Strong as thou art, and swift as strong,
IL takes three thirteen hours to march
Grand rounds" from noon to noon along
The azure Of the Federal arch
Majestic sweep Of boulcvards,
The. ruut. d realm OF travelled stars
That sps as rainbows spans the showers,
Az oake ncarts and hopes OF flowers,
AS thou untold may thrill and throng
One mi y syllable OF song.
How otrs my heart to think this land
Bound in long daytime's yellow zone,
Maine and Alaska hand In hand;
The self same hour behold in one
A rising and u setting sun.
XII
II brings my fancy to the Knee
And kindlcs up my soul, to see
Him play upon meridian lines
That string the globe rs harps are strung,
To watch each fibre as 1t shines,
And hear, distinct rs il it runs,
The Music Of the Union hung
From this celestial instrument,
Perhaps an angel choir has lent
Some Israfce of rarest powers
To help this harper OF the Lord,
Aud grandly sing, word after WORD;
TINS LAND Is MINE, IL YOURS, Is OURS
" Y Examiner and Chronicle,
Black Bass For Inland Waters.