Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-06-11

these momentous questions; my time
is too brief, the subjects too vast. and
others more eloquent and distinguished
wait TO address YOU. L can only re-
mind you that the prosperity and per
manence of the nation depends upon
the character of its citizens.
After prayer by Rev. J. E. Webster.
of Fayette, the poem written expressly
for the occasion by Mrs. Helen H.
Charlton. of Brodhead. was read bv the
author as follows:
Not mine the magic gift OF song,
To sweep the spirit chords along
To STIR the heart. the soul TO thrill
And sway the multitude at will:
Not mine the larks free wing, the eagles eve
To leave the earth and cleave the sky,
With burst of music wondrous sweet
The very God of day TO greet;
And floating in that upper air
Behold truth rainbow hued. with vision rare
Bid man himself on Faney's wing to soar
And taste of joys unknown TO thought before;
Nay. mines muse of humble birth
Who loves the quiet hauuts of earth,
Who nestles close mid homely JOYS
And shuns the greatworld's light and noise:
In cosy corners sits apart
And sings TO every waiting heart.
In palace or in hut she sings
And to the saddest soul lends wings;
The humbleSt yet the dearest of the nine
The muse of MEMORY to-day is mine,
Her presence sweetens all communion
And makes the gladness of REUNION.
She siags of childhood's peaceful iovs,
y Nations careless girls and boys
Whose lives flow on in such content
They ask not whence the blessings sent.
And while their pleasures do not lag,
ReCk not of country, home, or flag.
Yet in the twinkling OF an eye
When Treason's hand is lifted high,
At once 10 patrlo's all awake
Ready 10 die for cOuntry's sake,
And the strong arm of Treason dire
In the white heat of patriotic fire
Falls TO the ground a charred and shapeless thing
While from the ashes doth a Nation spring
She shows a picture i'll her glass,
A giriish teacher with her class
OF rosy girls and manly boys,
Tasting the sweet which never clogs.
| see them at the black board stand
A crayon poised in every hand,
Their faces turned the teachers way.
The lesaon is in Algebra;
But never thought of TX" or ''y''
kindled such light in flashing eye;
An unknown quantity. so far.
They talk to-day of civil war.
Fired on our flag the stripes and stars
Established by our Fathers prayers.
Then fight we must give blow for blow,
And shall leave my books and go.
Taking from one side the equation,
But spoilS the problem OF our nation,
We boys will go and just re-state it,
Then what is wrong, eliminate it"
And so with many laugh and pun,
world of earnest meath their fun
They close their books, their plaus for life,
And enter on the deadly strife.
Striplings to-day with book and pen.
Tomorrow grown to valiant men,
Quick to obey or 10 command.
They bring to aid their native land
The same firm will and just intent
Which brought success oR problems bent.
A few days pass; see again
The waiting, crowded railway train;
| seq the tears by Mothers She'd
The amile for parting words llnsaid,
| hear the jokes that turns to signs;
The quivering lips, the earnest eyes,
The backward wave of many hand,
That last "hurrah" for native land.
They're gone God keep them through the FRAY,