Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-07-12
Glass Poem, 1885.


Round this tree to celebrate
The glad time for which we've waited
Long, its claims to compensate.
And to-day as we look backward
O'er the years which quick have sped
While we've mingled here together
BY our own ambitions led,
And review with our historian
The mementoes of the past,
Justly may pride swell our bosoms
At the memories of our class.
We've the strongest class In numbers
As we now assemble here,
That has gathered on this campus
For the space of many year.
And the talents of our numbers,
To no humble place assigned,
Show the true ring in the metal
Of their character and mind.
We're the first to boast the honor
That our class numbers. in part,
Those possessed of special powers
Skilled in painting and in art.
Holding powers no less divine.
Theirs has been the arduous toiling
Up the sleeps of time and time.
Faithfully have others labored
In the way which students love,
Diligently have they striven
Toward goal above.
Long, with weary head and aching,
Hindered in thousand ways,
Have they sought with earnest effort
Mid the love of other days.
But, whether with brush and palette,
Or by musc's toilsome way,
Or by sturdy application
To our textbooks day by day.
Slowly, step by step, we've compassed
What at first seemed far away
And at length enjoy the triumph
OF this gladstone festal day.
The success which crowns our efforts
Has been ours to lose or win,
And what we've at length accomplished
Shows but what our aims have been.
Shows that it has been our purpose
While we've hoped and toiled and striven,
That our lives might be more useful
From these privileges given.
But these years offirm endeavor
Signify for us far more
Than the hardly won successes
OF the days Wen know no more.
More than all the joys experienced
Happy as our lives have been,
More than all the sadness caused by
Sorrow coming unforeseen
Like an index finger pointing
To the future of our lives,
Are these years which now are closing
Filled with pleasing memories.
For our every word and action,
Every little duty done
Is promise of our future,
AS anew we struggle on.
These were years of preparation,
Day by day we've laid the stone
Of our characters foundation,
Which we now must build upon.
In companionship NEST dear,
Soon these pathways all must sever
AS life's duties swift appear.
All these glad associations
Soon must sundered be for aye,
But our lives will e'er be brighter
For the memories of this day.
Here has been our preparation
Where life's work we cannot know;
We each have our sphere of action
And paint duty high or low.
If we follow but her bidding,
Then our lives can be no less,
In the fullness of its meaning,
Than a noble, grand success.
Round us we behold the faces
OF those who will fill our places,
As we leave our Alma Mater
To return again, no, never.
They have brightanticipations,
Standing IN our past relations,
Longing for the Senior stations,
Waiting, as we waited, for the key to learn
ing's door.
And to-day we wish them pleasure,
Joy and gladness without measure,
Pray their senior year may be the happiest
Year they've ever known.
Above all, may they be earning
Such enduring stores of learning
As shall help them in discerning
All their powers, and hew to use
The talents specially their own.
And We'll not be filled with sorrow
As we look towards the morrow
Of our lifetime, towards our future
As it lies in ways unknown,
For if Gods hand do the leading,
And we follow his sure guiding,
We shall e'er be onward speeding
To that higher place of action,
To our bright, eternal home.
just as we have here been lab'ring,
Ever onward, never wav'ring,
That we might attain to knowledge,
Which should bless our after years.
As we've finished rectations,
Passed severe examinations,
Severed all our school relations,
And now step upon the worlds great stage,
With all our hopes and fears,
so must we, in Life's great college,
Labor for such store of knowledge
AS shall ever to that higher school
Point out the perfect way.
Be our courses short or longer,
For the weak, as well as stronger,
Slow, but surely is approaching
Life's examination day.
Daily tasks will be assigned us,
But if duty ever finds us
Toiling meekly meath her burdens,
Grievous though they be to bear,
We possess the blest assurance
That, for faithful, firm endeavors,
We at length the welcome swell done"
In that higher school shall hear
Let us each, then, use the powers
Which by Gods free gift are ours,
Striving ever to show forth
The blessedness of His great love.
And may be, as He beholds us,
Looking kindly down upon us,
Like tender shepherd fold US,
Until He at last shall crownus
Members of that class above.