The Portland daily press., 1881-08-11

Mr.. Lunt then presented the following
toast: portland and Hartford; pleasan
retrospection for the Guard. cheerful anticipa
tions for the Artillery" and called on Mr.. II
T. Sperry of the Hartford Post.
Mr.. Sperry said
| Mr.. Chairman, Lieut.. Ldrrabee, Officers, Sol
dters, Governors, Congressman, Mayors an,
| Editors:
Gentlemen:-There have been two occasion
| in my history upon each of which was anx
| ious to make a good speech. The first wa
| when I was made foreman of a fire engin,
| company, the members of which were ambi
| tious young men, and the second when [ wa
elected superintendent of Sunday School, thu
teachers in which were mostly attractive
young ladies; and now 1 am obliged to add {
third occasion to the list, for if ever wanted
to make a good speech in my life it is at the
pre- sent time Well, gentlemen, can only
say that like the other impromptu speakers
who have preceded me, am totally unpre
pared, but unlike them I give you my reply in
jingles and rhymes:
PROLOGUE.
"To the beautiful city that sits by the sea-
Crhs is what Major Embler Numbered at me,)
"ro the beautiful city that sits by the sea,
To the beautiful city, where the women are fair
And the clans are all fat, and the winds and the
Are loaded with ozone, the Guard goes for a rest;
best"
SIS there feast of the gods Well think of the
Made Of tongues of the cod,-of the bluefsh that
glitters
The Portlanders call a chowder- of-fish,-
OF the taciturn quohog,-the meandering eel
Which gracefully squirms as he gives up his peel y
OF the yivacious soft crab,-of the mackerel shy
And the salmon and trout that swm-for fly,
Served up with surroundings which never again
VIII garnish feast, unless it's in Maine,
The Whole spced with wine-from the old cake n
feast Of the gods? well, you'll think you have
struck it
When you sit with tho Browns and partake of
Yes, Sperry, old fellow you must surely be there,
By sickness, in quiet on the shelf has been laid
face
Go along with the Guard, and rattle round in his
place."
"Well Major" lin meekness thus made reply,
Few cities love, but Portland stands high
In the list her history is rich with tales of old
times,
The throbs of her heart and her men, why Major
count myself proud,
To be counted a friend by some of that crowd;
know all the jokes facetious Senter deploys,
Have dined like prince with the Milliken boys,
Have rode with Dick Conant, and stood on the
highlands,
With Morris and Chisholm; have steamed to the
Islands.
Have tished with rake at Cushing's for Quo
heague,'
And camped for a Sunday on Little Chebeague;
Have talked politics dry, with sedate Mayor Walker
And with Congressman Reed the eloquent talker,
Herd Strout's thrilling tales of '79 crimes,
AND Dave Coolidge's stories of Sunday School
There's Editor Pullen and Adams, Anderson, wes-
And-well, 1 might mention some forty odd more,
For it's city where friendship becomes universal,
When it starts with the Cumberland and ends with
In pleasant places at Portland have fallen my lines
My certificate proves it, 1t reads Acton Gold
What go to old Portland why Major, you bet |!
But not as your poet, let me go as Vet.''
So he got me proxy, and tonight appear
As the Oldest old veteran the Guard musters here.
RErRosPEcrIoN FOR THE GUARD.
There are twenty good reasons, I can mention, at
least,
Why we're glad to be with you, and sit at this
We're glad of the rest, and the feasting and fun,
F For we've done earnest work since the dark II
VI tne century that's dead we are weary old men,
For we've marched through the years. an hundred
and ten;
And it's pleasant at last to come to halt.
Where the trencher ofpsas, and the bread and the
Are graciously passed by brotherly hand
ana you Captain Larrabee and those you command,
Must forgive us for calling the dead back to life
Wemarch through the long years, to the turmoil
OF the earliest -sve icerc there-wel, smile if
can prove it, by saying, our State has the bill
Receipted of course,-which shows the large sum
OF three shiiings and sixpense with ratons of rum
was allotted each one for single parade;
We remember the crowd and the show that we
made;
So for us, you may know twas glorious hour;
Well, we kept the crowd back on that beautiful
morn,
And the boys from the Governors favorite corn.
Then there's "The Father etc-the friend of our
Go on with your smiling This is crystalizo truth
When George used to grind his historical Ratchet,
We always drew lots for turn at the stone.
we use the same grinder to sharpen our own =
And not man of he Guard will ever forget
The pennies he pitcded with gay La Fayette, =
There was Rochambeau the pompous, who had O
quaint knack
And the ehirairous KNOX, who was apt TO get
merry
With host OF old worthless, whom to mention
would take
week of your time, so pause for your sake
For moment bear with me, while briefly I men
ton
The troublous times of the Hartford Convention. =
1t was eighteen hundred and twelve, Election Day,
We had marched to the church in our usual way,
Governor Griswold and Staff were asleep in the
pews,
We were standing in line, outside, when the news
Passed swiftly along the Guards straight ranks
That Madsons Recruits, were close to our TANKS,
when Major Terry stepped out on the church col.
And this is the speech tho Major then made:-
"Tention Battalion, bout face, fr bayonets,
On events that followed needn't enlarge
But allow me to mention in casual way,
That those foolish Recruits are all buried to-day
What list of parades ton light we recall
We remember when jackson. awkward and tall
In the bank war year, eighteen thirty aud three
Rode in our ranks to the old Charter Oak tree;
Where we made mistake as soldiers oft do,
Which made him turn red and the rest of US blue !;
We wheeled from left center left, instead of the
right
We know better to-day-since then we've grown
bright.
But doubtless the best of all marches we've made
Was when we appeared at Centennial parade;
We remember the words Governor Jewell then
spoke, E5
AS the first spade of earth, round the new Charter
Oak
Was most carefully laid; We keep up with ease
Our custom OF planting centennial trees,
But if lovers Of Continental Relics we'd please,
We must plant fresh Oak as each month passes
Even then the demand will exceed the supply.
needn't recall the long line assorted
Young and old Goy'nors the Guard has escorted;
we honor and love them, for the Governor, you
know
Is the only in our state who is able to sho "
The slightest authority for ordering us out,
Or is ever kept posted as to what we're about;
It's right royal crowd of old worthless and new
Which I'd like to present here tonight for re
view,-
From loyal old Trumbull, who in Lebanon town
For G. w. raised cash and made CORVALLIS frown-
Through the long row of some thirty odd others,
Whom by law we addressed commanders and
brothers
Hawley, the rugged, whose bluffness at best
Bellies the warm heart that beats under his vest;
Marshall Jewell, the genial, who with generou.
hand
Collars the stumbling and helps them to stand;
English, whose otum cum dig will never allow
An dllusion to virtues, 1 would like to avow
Hubbard, the silent, whose pauciloquous ways
Melt like mists of the morn on sunshiny days,
If you strike him just right and keep away from
his walk
When in search of orator to deliver s'talk;'
Andrews. the steadfast, the staunch friend Of the
Guard,
Who fgh 8 for his friends when the fighting is
hard
TO the one We expected would be at this feast
Whom we count as the last, but not as the least;
We're sorry he's absent for the gnaId will agree
We shall always revere and love Hobart 3. Is.