Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1880-06-05

tale that is tOld-let us see whethe
what this day is set to mark is some
thing worth /; whether the observ
: ances of it year by year are the fit
ting means to perpetuate itin men
minds and briefly the use to b
made of it in life. Let us SCI
whether it is something to be KEEP
up IL few years only while some o
the fellow actors with those who's
graves are decorated live or for ~
coming time.
This day celebrates the sacrifice
of life-the highest sacrifice fol
cOuntry-instituted after and be-
cause of the war of the rebellion II
more especially marks that illustra
ton of patriotism which the at.
tempt to overthrow the government
arnisAA, -. ..,--.- y
For years before that war broke
out, the country had been at peace
the war of 1912 was nearly half a
century and the Mexican war almost
a score of years in the past. The
Union had been developing with
great rapidity. The westward
course of the star of the Republic
that of Empire does not and never
will shine in it's place-had seen
the valley of the Mississippi stirred
by industrious millions and the
western plains changing from hunt
ing fields to farms. Trade was in
all the land. The revolutionary
fathers had gone; their sons and
grandsons in peaceful homes read
Of their dOings and wondered how
they could have wrought and eh-
dured as they did.
War was unthought of-tbe peo-
pie would vote and those they elect.
ed would talk of measures and dis
pute about them, perhaps go so far
IS to be unparliamentary in their
language-but what of it? There
was no lion in the way-it would be
talk-who would risk his life in
these more modercn days in war
and what need was there to risk
it?
In some states there were a few
militia companies. The first time !
ever set foot near where | live
went to see a muster of the Vermont
militia-that of 1860. Some thought
such tramping about and playing
at war was useless, it was foolish,
empty parade. SO doubtless were
the same things condemned in 9TH
ef- stsftesroyf some, and-pfaisrdi -b5
some. The next year confounded
the critics quickly enough-for the
towns that had the militia COM
panies-Bradford among the mum.
ber-lIad their men first in the
field.
The first gun fired at the flag
that flag which before the war was
over had waved at the head of en-
battled columns and been so stain.
ed with blood that it came to be in
every soldiers heart the nearest
sign of all for which he fought, the
flag at whose coming those in pris-
on pens were to weep with joy and
under whose folds again they fell
on their kness in the prayer of
thanksgiving, the flag that came to
be called and to be "Old Glory
the iirst gun fired on this flag found
our citizens where all great crises
lind men, about their homely duties,
working, and living with their
wives and children f; getting ready
to make a home; going to school,
doing all those things which make
up the life of thriving commune
ties.
On how many home scenes like
that described by Eastman did
Sumter's cannon fall
The farmer sat in his easy CHAIR
Smoking his pipe Of clay
While his hale old wife with busy care
Was clering the dinner away.
This sound Of war came when
Vermont was not far removed
and let us be thankful she is not
wholly gone yet-frOm the hOmely
ways told of by this same son of
hers:
"There many an hour Thanksgiving day
When the ice was glare the girls used to
stay
And share in our glorious fun;
When the shouting boys with cap in hand.
Would chase them of from the ice to the
land,
Till the Governors meeting was done
Till grace was said, the turkey carved,
The mince-pie cooled, and the pudding
"sarved"
And the gravy too cold to rum"
1t came
In the spring when the winter has gone to
the north
And the weeds on the knoll came peeping
And the little wild flowers between,
When the buds swelled out in the April sky
And the farmer saw that his winter rye
Came up on the hillside green,
And from three months school and the fer.
The boys were again to be seen.
The cannon of Sumter meant a
charge to the death to destroy the
Union. They told to peaceful
bnInaS tha story fhat ,vbat tha faf Ia