The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-03-29
Tie Building of the schoolhouse.
BY MATTE :. Nm.

Tread at the dedication of the New Nor
Grammar School Building. W aterville.]
"What shall we do for the childrcn:"
The question had pressed us long
At morning and noon they gathered,
A merry end fair-faced throng:
From the happy homes of plenty,
From the dwellings of the poor.
Bright eyed, intent and eager.
They thronged the schooIroom door,
And the walls grew strait to hold them
Till we asked, with anxious frown:
''Wnat shall we do for the children.
The promise and flower of the town.
So we said to the Master-builder:
! 20. craftsman. apt and skilled.
Our town, with thought for the future,
Hath in its wisdom wil!ed.
That you shall build for the children
A mansion spacious and tall:
Four-square like the heavenly City:
With stair and turret and hall.
With windows looking skyward
! North. south. and east. and west;
! Build firm and strong. ., master!
/ o. workmcn build your best.
| Build for the bright-faced children
That smile in your eyes to-day
| Build for the unborn children.
/ In wears that are far away.
"Out of the Solemn quarrics
Where Nature. never at rest,
Shapeth the mighty granite
Hid in the green Earih'> breast:
Where sun and rain. and fusion
| OF elemental fire,
| Work miracles forever
AT her supreme desire.
/ Cut from the solid powders
The firm foundation stone.
The house on a rock that is bulded
| Shall ne'er be overthroWn.
Nv here ranks of stately pine trees
In Ear.h's primcval lands,
Toward the lonely mountain
Stretch out their waving hands:
liew down the forest monarch>.
For the fertile earth below
Hath yielded richest juices
Within their veins 10 flow.
4 The lonely lakes shall speed us.
The mountain torrents still
Shall aid lis with their currents.
The rivers work our will.
Till the huge trunk, di>mantied.
In tmbcrs great and small
Shall shape our beams and rafter>,
Shall fashion stair and hail.
With brick from smoking brickyarl.
With iron from the mines.
The walls shall spring by magic
In straight and >haptly lines:
/ With sound of hammer and chi>el.
With workmen'> cheerful cries.
The house we build for the children
In beauty shall arise
| With here an arching doorway.
And here Il turrct tower.
| We sec the thought that shaped it
Grow in il every hour,
Till looking northward ever
| W &c set the carvcn face
OF him. the mighte>t master
In all the human race.
| O. keen. calm ewes of Shakespeare.
Not ancient STAFFORD town.
But our fair. ncwWorld city
Behold> you looking down:
Those dumb lips say: "Rtmrml,er.
The tremin@, restless brain
i still the potent factor
! For human JOY or pain:
And you who mould and shape 1t
Make for Eternity
| An impress like the circles
| That widen OH the sea-
| Finished al laSt-our >chooIhOu>e--
The Workmen's hammers dumb.
And bare Of memories il stands
Its story ali to come.
| Yet we tonight who view it.
/ In structure now complete.
Hear through the wears tie echoes
OF all the coming feet;
| For Nainly master buil,led.
And Vainly workmcn wrought,
| If we build not in human lives.
And shape in human thought;
And vainly hath the mason
Laid the foundation stone.
| II We our supcrsiruciurc rear
OF brick and wood alone.
| Mess when masters brain i dust.
And workmen'> tools at rest
When skill that planned. and hand that wrou4
To silence are addressed.
The future shall by wi>est zeal
And nohler impulse tell.
| In tones that sound across The wears:
''Behold, you buiIded Well!