Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-02-28
A POEM

Written for the exercises celebrating Washing
tons birthday, and the presentation Of nags 10
public schools of watervflle,
By MATTE HAkER DUNN.
We call the children forth to. night
with loyal pride we bid you come
torsake the household lamp so bright.
tOrsake the cheerful hearth and home
forsske your simple, daily Joys,
And gather here from near and far.
Our eleareyrd. eager girls and boys,
The Flower Of free America
o, childish hanfs, that grow so strong.
o. earnest hearts, that beat 80 true
To you these patriot rites belong,
We bring to night gift to you
simple square, yet dearly bought;
sewn thick with prayers, and hopes, and tears.
with many valiant deed inwrought,
And woven in the web of years.
simple square, yet strong hearts beat
10 see those mingled colors wave.
And for 1t, heroes marching feet
Have walked unfinchinp, TO the grave.
simple square, yet dearer far
han when its brave device was new,
[ nquenched the lu-tre OF each star,
With every stripe its glory grew.
And not an unnamed star Is there,
Here's Maine, the state we love the best,
Brave deeds have made her record fair,
Brave sons have sprung from her broad breast
Here's the Bay state. whose bygone years
saw the new birth Of Liberty,
Here's Kansas. bought with blood and tears,
And Texas, wide, and fair and free,
Here's proud Virginia, the state
That gave us once our Washington
With lessons yet to learn from fate
For John Browns soul Is marching on,
A nd here dozen ) ates 1T least
Where now In peace this banner waves,
That are star sown from West TO East
With heroes names, and pat riot graves
The State OF marty red Lincoln's birth.
The State where martyred Garfield died.
-. space of consecrated earth
o. country purgcd and sanetihed
bear children. on each starry fold
Their names are writ with deathlrss pen;
saint. hero, martyr, thick enrolled,
The men who lived and died for men
This glorious past, this history true,
with our dear Flag we give TO you
What more have we to night to do
What further gift to bring TO you'
Beneath our State Houses lofty dome
10 North and south on either hand,
+ inding At last peaceful home.
shesf OF hatteret banners stand.
No longer waved amid wars flames.
No more baptized with widows tears,
But written DER with battle names,
They tell their story to the years
And now "fn piping times of Peace"
We count the gaping bullet holes
: wifi messengers that Brought release.
{ riers were they, that called mems souls
That ragge peunant on the right,
one bygone day was shaken free
Where men who stormed a rsmpart's height
Climbed up to death and victory
Ihi. flag fell from a DYING hand;
This led through bloody days and nights,
This marked last, decisive stand;
Ibis banner waved in thirty fights.
And awful was the price we paid.
Ten thousand stalwart men of Maine
In Southern deld and trench were laid
who nevermore came home again
And to that lis, of martyred names,
Add mothers tears, and children's cries,
And mangied limbs and shattered frames.
That nlled the need of sacrifice.
Dear children, II was worth the cost,
A nd many storted shaft on high,
Lest one brave memory be lost,
Preserves the names that shall not die.
And all they did, and died TO do,
With this dear Flag we give to you
What more have we to night to do
what nobler Gift to bring to YOU
Look on your map's familiar face,
And find, in mingled eolors blent.
A pictured country, broad in space.
Belfins a mighty Continent
A land where rapid rivers flow.
Where oceans beat on either shore,
Where towering pines singing slow
Their monotones for evermort,
A land where lofty mountain creets
At evening kiss the sunset skies,
W lille spell be und in their rugged breasts
A Nations uncoiped treasure lies.
Here cities rear their stately domes,
Here Fashion claims h. crowded page,
But loyal hearts. and loving homes
Are our fair Lands best heritage.
Here Freedom had her latest birth.
Here noble dreams may live and be.
Here DER conseerstsd earth
Rose the new star of Liberty.
And spi,e of place, and gold and greed.
And lust of life, and pride of power,
Our Country shall nj hour of need
Find nobler hope, and richer dover
And out of petty toll and strife
A nd warning creeds, and Earring claims,
She vet shall rise to larger life,
To purer faith, and trner aims
In DAYS of old, - legends tell,
The monarch raised his princely blade.
And on each true Knights shoulder fell
The blow that gave his secoiade,
Won are our Flower OF Youth TO-DAY,
A nd We, with mingled hopes and fears,
Cpou your strong young shoulders lay
The burden of the coming years
our sacred Land, yosr birthright too,
With thi. dear Flag we give 10 you
W. know not on what BATH. field
,uy bows their kuightly spurs may win,
We knos not what barred gates must yield
For our brave girls to enter n,
But this we bid you Fer You hsht
X, sure you know your contest good
For heart and HON for God and Right,
For mauhood, and for womsnhood'
nd this we bid YOU Aim a. high
A. YOUR own eagle when be flies
WHERE no mean bird may venture nigh.
Alone amid the mort ming skies
And may this Flss our fathers gave,
mi. Flag for which our brothers died,
ene'er you see its eoiors wave,
" skr that Wild thrill of loyal pride
That caches patriots how to live,
That tesshes heroes how 70 die,
Living or dying, helps TO gire
The hearts best truth for Liberty