The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-04-29
A VISION On CAPITOL HILL.
IApriI. lSS0.l


The ciay lies at rest; there is not heard
be voice of man nor Gag of any bird.
The faint, sweet odors Of the A April night
Float on the air; here in the m moOns clear light
Trsnsfgured stands the TEN pie on the height;
he pale, uDearthly statues seem
Weird figures ia mystic dream.
] loak upon the cleaning marble wall.
The fair proportions of the pilsred hail;
Half does my wandering fancy deem
Twas never sha led by mortal hSnd.
But, at some word Of magic tongue,
At once 70 perfect beauty sprung,
Aud from SOME far AeropeIis
BY magic poEor was borne to this.
$50 in the tale our wandering chi ildhOOd read,
swift through the air the enchanted palace
sped.l
Where the high dome stands out against the
skies.
! zee a shadowy form sublime uprise;
Beyond the statue OF the sous of men,
With benedctisnl in his outstretched hands,
With watchful eyes Of far prophetic ken,
Behold the GeDius of the city stands.
His awful voice the solemn lence thrills
20, City. nursing of the grand old hills,
] saw thy m Oldest life begun;
he little tearing in the wool
Whereon the frst log cabip stood,
EmbOsnned in the growing grain,
How hardly was the footing won
How stout of heart and clear of brain
The sturdy band, wE0 came with purpose high,
To tell, to fight. and-if need were-to die.
EVen woman, in those early, trying years,
Forgot her weakness and her tender fears.
The hand that by The still freside
The shining needle deftly piled,
Orturned the peaceful humming wheel,
Could grasp. in dangerous hour. the steel,
And strike for home q de, perate blow,
when. as their simple annals show.
With flaming torch and dreadful yell,
Like demons from some hidoOus hell,
The painted foe upOn the settlers fell.
"A hundred years have passed; now look
down
Upon the clearing. grown mighty town,
ThSt climbs the hills aud spans the placid
stream.
Row far beyond the hardy rustic's dream,
The iron ways-the electric wires that start
Strong arteries from her busy. throbbihg heart!
The skyw"rd- pointing spires, the airy domeS,
The stately dwellings, garden-circled homes;
OF manly sons, and daughters fair of face,
With liquid speech and sweetest Southern
grace.
Here proudly rise the spacious halls
Where science to her yotaries calls.
They probe the starry mysteries,
And spell the secret of the seas.
Search how the fiery Sun began
And whence was Earth-and what is Nan.
'Here was tho home of hero and of sage.
Whose names are craven on the historic page;
They. when the natiOn's s need was sore,
Hor counseIs led. hor banner bore,
Ard when the crucial hour was er,
Turned fondly to the spot that gave
A life Ofpeacc-a haliowed grave,
Above yon tomb where one lost leader sleeps.
Still widowed Love her sanity vigil keeps.
Veil with thy kindly shades, o, gentle night.
The tTeel So summit Of that barre n height;
The ruined fort-the broken wnA-
Too we'll the evil days recall;
When, IN the sha do " of her hills.
Wasted. and worn with many ills,
The City sat, mourn ing mother.
Th. ~ bile that deadly M SStnps hurnRd
And fierce destroying swords were turned,
Of brother against brother.
Haste round the ruins to sntwino
Thy soft. green arms, o, sbeltering vine!
Blow, sweet wild flowers, bud and blow
Thy mantle. pitt ing Nature throw;
Hide from men S eye. each cruel scar,
Telling Of fratriciIal war.
Past wanes the lisht-the floating clouds dis
play
The pure. pale rose flush hernlding the day.
Soon shall their hue. to flaming sp.cndor turn;
Soon all the East with gold and crimson barn.
So, for th 9. too. from out the bright ming skic,
U, rum mer land faircr morn shall rise.
To thee race Of sons snail yet be given
R.vered of Earth ana we'll beloved of Heaven;
The noble offspring of a noble age,
Their courage lofty and their honor pare;
and redeem ed their glorious heritage.
Strong a. thy rocks and as thy hills secure,
Proudly thy crescent fame shall round and
glow.
While grsndly rolliug centuries onward low."