Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-05-31

authentic history, the work of but one
individual approaches that of Grant
Two names should ha chiseled upon the
majestic column that, leapipg from the
banks of the Potomac, rears its
graceful head far into the clouds,
the living ambassador from
grateful people to the borders of the
undiscovered country, to which
both soldiers have gone-Washington
and Grant! The warriors of liberty!
One its father and the other its latest
defender.
Fellow citizens! A chill autumn wind
blowing over q sterile plain bore within
its arms little seed torn with ruthless
force from it's matrix on lofty tree and
dropped the seed upon the sand to per-
ish. A bright winged beetle, weary with
flight and languid with the chilly air,
rested for a moment apon the arid plain.
The little seed dropped by Aolus served
to satisfy the hunger OF the beetle,
which presently winged its flight to the
margin OF swift running brook that
had sprung from the mountain side and
cleaving bed through rocks Of granite
went gaily laughing upon its cherry way
down to the ever rolling sea. Slipping
drop OF the crystal flood, the beetle
crawled within protecting ledge and
folding its wings, lay down to pleasant
dreams. The Ice King passed along and
touched the insect in its sleep. Its mis-
sion was fulfilled; but the conflict of the
seasons continued until the White De-
stroyer melted in the breath of balmy
spring. And then o sunbeam sped to
the ehink wherein the body of the in
sect lay, and searching for the little seed
ersombed but not destroyed. invited it
to "ioin the Jubilee OF returning life and
hope" Under the soft wooing of the
peopled ray the little seed began to
swell with Joy, tiny rootlets were de.
veloped within the body of the protect
ing beetle, minute stem shot out Of Its
gaping mouth, and 10! mighty treo
had been carried from the desert, saved
from tho frosts OF winter, nurtured and
started upon its mission of lifs and use-
fulness by an humble insect that had
persisted with the fowrrs. The agent
had passed away: but building better
than he knew, tho wide-spreading tree
remained by The margin of the life
giving brook, a shelter and rest to the
weary traveller upon life's great highway,
through many fretful centuries. A child,
abandoned by its mother to perish in an
Egyptian marsh, may become the instru
ment to deliver nation from bondage,
and an unostentatious man, unknown to
fortune and to fame, may become the
agent of a mighty work, destined to
benefit the human race as long as it may
last upon the earth
Oh! mighty agent of a grateful peo.
pie, we are here to do you honor. Ohi
inspired genius. we come to render tes-
timony os the baneficence of our work.
Noble citizen, kind husband, loving
father, good friend, great captain,
chosen agent! the work thou hast
done will shine from the armament as q
new star to light the coming generations.
Its ray shall pale the rich troopers OF
the night, and forever flash with undi-
minisbed fire in presence OF the god OF
day. Until another year shall reawaken
the flowers and fill the vernal air with
incense, we leaYe thee with the faithful
lspirits that guard thy rest and smile
about thy tomb.