The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-09-04
A TRIBUTE TO VERMONT.
Bev. A. J. HOuRh's Poem at the Meet
ing of the Odd Fellows, Aug. 10.

Ing Of the Odd Fellows, Aug lO'
THE PRESENTS HOMAGE TO THE PAST.
Rev. Alfred G. Hough, Montpelier, VIII
Where Stark once answered Freedoms bugle
blast,
Striking the British columns front and rear,
A grateful Present to glorious Past
Lifts high its monumental shaft in air.
Three hundred feet the dolo mite ascends.
Yet but one-third Of this Vermont will claim;
New Hampshire, Massachusetts,, her true friends,
United with her share her wealth Of fame.
The blood of three States mingled on the day,
Stark struck the blow whose echoes linger still,
And blending in the shaft of blue and grey
Iumortalized they stand on State Arms hill.
Burgoyne had sent his troops, SO history runs,
Apowder magazine to fire or seize
They found it-bursting from thousand guns
That shook the throne OF England over seas.
Though slow the present seems to pay the need
or grateful homage to the glorious past,
Vermont has cherished in her heart the deed
And will not let il die while time shall last.
She only waited till the hundred years
Should round her life, and civic prestige yield,
Then peerless gather, as her honored peers
The State in triumph on her battlefield.
And having now attained the skill of age
To build her monument with worthy hand
She welcomes through her governor, Carroll
Page,
Tue noblest sons that serve grateful land
Her forests wave their greeting high in air,
Her streams sing welcomes on their winding
ways,
And fair forever, she seems still more fair
On this her grandest OF historic days.
Her valleys spread their carpeting of green,
Her hills stoop gracefully with shining crests,
Her skies look down with majesty serene,
In honor of the coming of her guests.
'Tis fitting on this battle field should stand
The Nations chief and breathe Vermont's
sweetest air,
Che oava him Proctor hic ctronp vic hand
And named him for the Presidential chair.
An6 meath the smoke of Bennington's fierce
strife,
The form of that Republic stood concealed,
And felt the pulse-beat of its glorious life
And breathed the first breath on this battle
field.
Odd Fellowship, strong with the strength Of
youth,
In martial column but in peaceful mood
With the three links of friendship, love and
truth,
Halls its Lieutenant-Ge General Underwood.
To old Kentucky, in the sunny land,
Here in the presence of her noble guest
Vermont Odd Fellowship gives her right hand,
She knows no north or south, no east or west.
And as the sword of Stark long since was drawn
To strike an ancient wrong forever down,
So may the sword of Underwood lead on
To virtues conflicts and her glorious crown
For there are battles fought upon life's field
Whose bugle calls to action never cease.
And victories won that evOrmole will yield
The precious heritage Of Love and Peace.
This field, that shaft, familiar signs display,
Three States IS one TO glorious battle came;
Three links they were. Odd Fellowship that daJ
Was here IN symbol on the field Of fame.
Where fighting PGrson Allen knelt and prayed,
Then rose 70 shoot invading tories down,
We greet Grand Chaplain Bolton here arraySd
In marital coat above his priestly gown.
Brave GenerAIS Sad 6Eand Masters from afG1,
Odd Fellowship your welcome has renewed,
And three times three, as worthy found they are
For Governor Page and General Underwood.