St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-10-15
BANNER.
O~~~O0~0
Ode for Columbus Day.
o-ee~e 49,
ri EDNA DEAN PROCTOR.


o-oo-o
rrhe following patriotic poem win be read or recited from thousands
Of platforms throughout the United States next Friday. Oct. p, which
will be Columbus Day. Miss Proctor was IGNORED by the COMMITTEES
ode for the occasion, and she has nobly fulfilled her task. The lyric
Is the result Of months Of labor, and will take permansDt rank rs ONE
OF the foremost poems ever written on America
''God helping me-" cried Columbus, .though fair or foul the breeze,
will sail and sail till 1 find the land beyond the Western seas!"
So an eagle might leave it, eyre, hent, though the blue should bar,
To fold its wings on the lofiest peak Of IN undiscovered,star!
And into the vast and void abyss he followed the setting sun;
Nor gdfs nor gales could fright his sails till the wonderqus quest was
done.
But, oh! the weary vigus, the murmuring, tortunng days,
Till the Pfntas gun, and the shout Of "Land!'' set the black night
Till the shore Ia, fair as Paradise. in mornings balm and gold,
And a world was won from the conquered deep. and tire tale of the
Uplit the Starry Banner: The best age is begun! s
We are the heirs Of the mariners whose voyage that day was done.
Measureless lands Columbus gave, and rivers through. zones that roll,
But his rarest, noblest bounty, was . New World for h. Soul!
For be sailed from the Past, with its sitting walls, to the Futures
open sky,
And the ghosts of gloom and fear were laid. IS the breath Of heaven
went by;
And the pedants pride, and the lordling's scosn, were list in That vital
As fogs are lost, when sun and wind sweep ocean blue and bare;
And Freedom and larger knowledge dawned clear, the sky to span,
The birthaght, not Of priest or king, but Of every child Of man!
Upift the New Worlds Banner, to greet the exultant snn!
Let its rosy CLEANS still follow his beams, a swift to The West they run,
Till the wide air rings with shout and hymn to welcome ii shining high.
And our eagle, from lone Katahdin to Shasta's snow cap ny
In the light Of its stars, as fold on fold is flung to the autumn sky!
Upift It, Youths and Maidens, with songs and loving CHEERS;
Through tziumphs, raptures, it has waved, through asoaies and tears.
Columbia looks from sea to sea, and thrills with Joy TO know
Her myriad sons, as one, would leap to shield it from . foe!
And you. who soon win be the State, and shape each great decree.
Oh, vow to live and die for II, il glorious death must b.!
The brave Of al the centuries gone. this Starry Flag hae wrought;
In dungeons dim, ON CORY fields. its light and peace wae bought;
And you who front the future whose days our dreams fulfill
On LibeTty's immortal height. oh, plant it 6rmer still!
For It floats for broadest learning; for the souls supreme release;
For law disdaindng license; for righteousness and peace;
For valor born Of justice; and its amplest scope and plan
Makes = queen Of every woman, king Of every man!
While forever, like Columbus, DER Truths ~unfathomed main
1t pilots to the hidden isles, . grander realm to gain.
All! what . mighty trust IL ours-the noblest ever sung
To keep this Banner spouess, is kindred stars among!
Our fleets may throng the oceans-our forts the headlands crown
Our mines their treasures lavish, for mint and mart and town
Rich fields and nocks, and busy looms, bring plenty far and wide
And stateher temples deck the land. than Romes or Athens pride
And science dare the mysteries Of earth and wave ard sky
Till none with rs in splendor and strength and skin can vie.
Yet, should We reckon Liberty and Manhood less than these,
And sight the right Of the humblest between our circing seas |
Should we be false to our sacred past, our fathers God forgetting,
This Banner would lose its luster, our sun be nigh hts setting!
But the dawn viii sooner forget the east, the tides their ebb to flow,
Than you forget our radiant Flag, and its matchlessgifs fofgo!
Nay, you will keep It high advanced, with ever Frightening sway
The Banner whose light betokens the Lords diviner day
Leading the nations gloriously in Freedoms holy way!
No clOud on the field Of axure-no stain on the rosy bars
God bless you, Youths and Maidens, a you guard the Stripes and
Stars!