Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-06-08

Worn with the battle by stamford town,
Fighting the Norman by Hastings Bay,
Harold. the saxons' sun, wen<
While the acorns were falling one autumn
day.
Then the Norman said, "I am lord Of the land,
BY tenor of conquest here sit;
will rule you now with the iron hand;
But he had not thought Of the Saxon grit
He took the land. and he took the men.
And burnt the homcsteads from Trent to
Tyne.
Made the frccmen scrfs by stroke OF the pen
Alto up the corn and drank the wine;
And said to the maiden pure and fair.
"You shall be my leman. as is most ft-
Your saxon churl may rot in his lair"
But he had not measured the Saxon grit.
To the merry greenwood went bold Robin Hood
the fray.
Driving the arrow into the marrow
OF all the proud Nornans who came In his
way.
Scorning the fct;cr fearless and free;
Winning by vaior or foiiing in wit
Dear 10 our Saxon folk ever Is be.
This merry old rogue with his Saxon yrit'
And Nett, the tanner. whipt out his knife,
And Watt. the smith. his hammer brought
down.
For ruth Of the maid he loved better than life.
And by breaking head made hole In the
crown.
From the saxon heart rose n mighty roar,
sour life shall not be by the kings permit.
We will aghi for the right: We want no more "
Then the Norman found out the saxon grit.
For slow and sure rs the oaks had grown
Prom the aeorns falling that antumn day.
SO the Saxon manhood in thorpe and town
To nobicr stature grew Mway-
Winning by inches. holding by clinehes,
Standing by law and the human right;
Many times falling. never once quaiiing,
So tire new day came out Of the night.
Then rising afar In the Western sen
A New World stood In the morn OF the day.
Ready TO welcome the brave and free.
Who could wrench out the heart, and march
away
From the narrow. contracted, dear old land
Where the poor are held by . cruel bit,
To ampler spaces for heart and hand,
And here was n chance for the saxon grit.
steadily steering. eagerly pccring,
Trusting In God. your fathers came.
Pilgrims and strangers, fronting all dangers.
Cool.headed saIons. with hearts afiame
Bound by the letter, but free from the fetter,
And hiding their freedom in Holy Writ.
They gave Deuteronomy hints in economy,
And made n new Moses OF Saxon grit
They whitfield and walcd through forest and
fen,
Fearless as ever OF what might befall.
Pouring out life for the nurture OF men,
In the faith that by manhood the world views
all:
Inventing baked beans and no end OF machines,
Great with the rife, and great with the axe;
Sending their notions over the oceans
To Ill empty s,omachs and straighten bent
backs.
Swim 20 take chances that end In the dollar
Yet open Of hand when the dollar is made;
Maintaining the meet'n. exalting the scholar.
But little too anxious about good trade.
This Is young Jonathan. son OF old John'
Positive, peaceable, firm in the right.
Saxon men all Of Us. may we be one
Steady for Freedom and strong In her might.
Then allow and sure. ~ the oaks have grown
From the acorns that fell on the old dim day.
So this new manhood. In city and town.
To nobler stature will grow Away.
Winning by inches, holding by elinches.
slow 10 contention. and slower to quit,
Now and then falling. bsk never once quailing-
Let Us thank God for the Saxon grit