Morning journal and courier., 1890-01-17
L. 8. O..

IN. w. W. Aee,s Poem, Read at she
). .. O.ss Recent Annual Banquet.
Following is the pleasant poetic contribu-
n made by Hon. W. w. Lee of Meriden at
, recent banquet of the L. 8. O. in this
y:
IT'S said that poets deal In fiction,
And I'm inclined to think thst,s 60;
We ne'er had one with polished dicti0n
To sing the praise OF L. 9. o.
We've had no place in "Poet's Corner.
Where rhymesters let their numbers flow.
And be consigned to climate warmer
Than we have known In L. 8. o.
make no claim to be poet,
Or giving words the easy fow'
In fact, I'm nearer to goat,
As you have known in Z. q. o.
Ny theme is not by nature solemn,
Where words are ponderous and slow,
Like some grand funereAl column,
Only about our l.. 8. O.
We're here again, oncs moro boy,
But only for an hour Or 80;
The fact Is this--we all Love-toy
Whenever we meet In L. 8. o.
Long years ago, in early manhood,
In fact, near forty years ago,
In the bonds Of true knighthood
Pledged we then in L. 8. O.
Pledged to true and manly living,
Squirting all that's mean and low. :.
Love TO God and brothfr giving,
This the pledge OF L. 8. o.
Pledged to walk in paths Of duty.
Each one nett to strive rd for st moral beauty,
This We agreed in l.. 3. o.
The years. rolled on, the war-drum's rattle
Called for mon to meet the foe,-
And in the front line OF the battle
Were found tho men OF l.. 3. o.
Some died upon the field of honor,
Their faces turned toward the foe;
Some by disease, no stain upon her
Record, left our men or l.. b. y.
And some returned; these we greeted
As victors DER sturdy foe.
OF erring men, who were defeated
By just such men as L. s. o.
We mourn our dead. we tell our sorrow;
And while we grieve their fate was 30,
Bright hopes we for the future borrow,
For these arc friends OF L. 8. o.
Some have been called to high positions,
IA; As t colonies Judges, 50 q and a1 50,
Have been these men OF L. s. o.
Aud one there is Who's somewhat noted.
Our Governor; for him voted.
guess all did in L. 8. o.
hear OF some who take ticket
And travel west q mile or so
To board; these are given out by Pickett.
j
And Ger his music liked to crow;
He published some well nigh internal,
So think some men In L 8, Q.
Then there was one Bill presenting,
No one could ever cay him "No;"
His facial lines showed no relenting,
We know him well In L. s. o.
Another one who turned his Tyre"
And babe the notes melodious flow,
Twas music cen when he cried "Fire!"
Ben Jepson Of our L. o. s.
The other Jepson chad a fiddle"
We never he ard him draw O bow;
His story ended in the middle
The one he told in L. 8. o.
I've read Of Bald (win) headed prophet,
And bad boys told him where to 20;
If there's one here we will not scoff it,
There are no bad boys in L. 8. o.
And there was one from Derby; hail him
AS you used to; call him Joe -
His model was the ass of Balaam
Whenever he spoke in L. g. 0.
Did some one say, ''You make me tired
With rhyming nonsense SO and SOP
Dry up, quick, or you'll get fired,
With all you say OF L. 8. o.
Hold on man, wait just minute.
know there is but little Ia in i TO-
Only about the L. s. o.
But time speeds on; 'twou;d take till mornip
Ger the long list were I to go;
Early to bed, bad customs coming,
This we were taught In L. s. O.
Yes, our sands Of life are shifting,
And our pulses beat moro slow;
With the tide we're outward drifting,
Each and all of L. 8. o.
Keep our love for one another,
AS our footst cps tardier grow:
Keep faith in God. and man, our brother,
Warm in the hearts of L. s. o.
Closer draw the bonds of union,
AS a-down the hill We 60;
Bear in mind the fond communion
We have had in L. 8. O.
When we reach the rivers border,
Whittier all must surely 20,
MAY we hear this general order,
'Welcome to all of L. s.. O."
Past the hill top, life's declining,
Past the suns meridian glow;
And its slanting rays are shining
On the heads of L. 8. O.
Vision DINNER, heads are whittier,
As we to the westward 60,
But our faith and hope Is brighter
In the hearts of i, 8. O.