The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-07-08

| bless
The world as has the mighty printing press.
! Men of that press, ye gather here to-day;
! le lay your toll and care awhile away;
lie come with light hearts. jesting Ii is NEE
! That now and then your busyltoil-wOrn feet
| Should pause and rest; that while still keeping
e'rr
In duty path, ye sometimes should draw neal
| 4 pleasant. wayside spring, cool retreat,
| There brother toilers ye may gladly greet,
Where. work all laid aside. ye may review
| Past work that's doRe-lay plans .iOr work
that new
But do you feel as We A. semble here.
That tho this rest is sWest. this ceol spring
clear.
On, on, rest over, stretches far the way
Which ye must travel? Can ye bTaVely say
That rest and pleasure shall not make you
shrink
From rock Is and burning sands? Do ye Ell
think
How noble is the goal that like star
shines o er your way with radiaLce Fl ON afar
knew ye that goal is great nation s peace
Her highest peace and welfare? Will ye cease
From tOiling n the way and sending back
Brave message to those following on your
track?
All! in your hand our country fair has placed
The standard OF her fame; never dlsgraced
Has that fame been; future age shall tell
W neither, like those of old, ye guard it well.
One Ofyour number in a sober mood,
PropOunded not long since a gu stiOn good
And worthy deepest pond ring; but the rest
Took up his cry with many Il sorry jCst;
EacA, with keen relish OF his own rough wit,
According to his own taste handled it;
ct still the question sounds and aye shall be
FOR thinking minds Il thought that Who are
We are people to whom q God has given
A land as fair as smiles beneath his heay'n;
\ sunny, Southern land, with clear blue skies,
With peac -ful rivers, wooded hills that rise
Ger emerald fields and meadows, mountains
grand
And fairest fragrant flow 'rets; rich land
Rich in thG vast resources of her soil;
Rich in her sOhs whose patient toll
Add yearly to her wealth; rich, above all,
In true. brave women who. where er the call
OF Duty sounds, go forth:-a land of fame
So fa and high. that It's a sOre-felt shame
That, over II Regulations flag
ShOul ever wave, our name and fame tS drag
Ihro dark DiShonOr mire-tO leave blot
TN our escuicheOus stimc eraSeth not !
l e Press men are our wa!Chmcn on our hills |!
70 look far of, and Of all gath ring ills
That mSnace fame or cOuhtry, warn us loud;
\ c are our voice, clear speaking thrO' crowd
Of - hispers and vague mLtteTInGs; our brave
And trusted-ha beSrers whO e'er should save
Our count ry' banner from the faintest stain,
Ne'er let it trail, or. should it trail, again
With brave hands lift it up and braVely tell
That weakened, not disgrlced. that banner fell.
Fulfill We well your mission watch our land
Speak loud and clear when dangers threat ming
stand
Ger our fair fame or country raise on high
That cUILtry standard, whgre each weary
May see i; wave. each rainting heart take ch er,
As its white folds unturl over our. land 30 dear.
Let Honor be the star q 'er Daty's way.
Fair cleaning thrO' the darkness and the day
Let future ages reYcrrntly bless
The truth and right embodied in this Press
Letthe white . arble that soon shall CLEAN
Above the grave uf him whose lites bright
dream,
All vanished at tn. sudden touch Of Death
Faded before the dark Plague withrring
BREATH
Let thi= fair marble, cleaning far and VIII te,
Send ever o rr Your way its shadOwed light
And guide to noble daring-let it tell
How braycly doing duty NestbrOok fell
And let eacn mem Der Of this body feel
That, load and clear a. some great trumpet'S
peal,
His brave voice Soundeth back and Urgeth on
10 deeds aS brave, to live when We are gone.
The future lies before you; shall it be
page taIT-Yrlttem in life : history,
" ith records ,Of grand struggles by a state
That on your beck ming hand alone doth wait?
Or shall it bea blurred and blotted leaf
W hIch those who after come shall read with
grief
4 nd blush for their weak brothers All! we see
Alone the Present, and tbs W hat May be
Lies Shroudsd still in darkness: but afar,
and cleaning, shineth the twin star
Ever from day to day burning more bright
Shine o'er our land. and may it ever be
The brightest star
That guides afar-
The Press Of Tennessee.