Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1894-05-31

SSs.>lsg CLASS POEM, 1884.
| ,AA5lGTHIN the midst of Freedom S chosen
sN Missouri Gateway of the West, doth
fs<sJg Bedeeked with verdant hills and val
| The fairest land that e. 'er held stately sway.
mighty rivers on thy Eastern side,
| On whose calm bosom stately steamers glide
| To many distant ports on foreign shores,
| To which they bear thy grains and precious ores.
| And on the south, like silent sent 'nels, rise
| The pine clad Ozarks, pointing to the skies,
And western borders with their sun scorched
| sand,
Contrast with thy green fields and forests grand.
While north of thee, vast seas of rip ming grain
| In gentle breezes sway, as II they fain
Would leap into thy arms, and there, at rest,
Enrich thy lands, already douhly blest.
What hes within these varied border lands.
What glorious scene before the eye expands?
A country grander than the kings of old
Could e'er ha purchased with their countless
| gold.
Had ten thousand tongues to praise thy name;
Spoke of nothing but thy endless fame;
Had a voice divine, of cearest ring,
Thy giories could never fully sing.
Far in the North the fertile prairies roll.
And elothe with green vast hidden fields of COAL
Which give thy homes while wintry tempests
blow,
Their genial warmth and ever frightening glow.
From out these praires mighty cities rise,
Their massive buildings reaching to the skies,
Whose lofty spires first greet the morning sun,
And last bid him adieu when day is done.
And scattered round in manifold array,
The peaceful villages await the day
When they, great thriving cities shall become,
With culture filled and busy tratfic's hum.
Around the villages the fertile soil
Enriched and cultured by the ploughman g toll,
Becomes thy boasted farms, which yearly yield
Earth 8 bounteous gifts in orchard and in field
From snowy mounts with murmur soft and low,
The muddy stream so sluggishly doth flow,
Which bears thy name, and is to thee more dear
Than many stre am more beautiful and clear.
In the Southeast corner rugged mountains bold
Within their bosoIns iron masses hold;
And peaceful wales where oft the huntsman s
horn,
The deer from covert frights at early morn.
But look to the Southwest and you will find
The fairest land e'er granted to mankind,
A sunny spot and brighter than them ALL
An Eden fair. which does our soul enthrail.
The miner, pick in hand, and full of mirth,
At morn descends into the open earth,
And all day long tears from its rocky bed,
The sparkling zinc and ever valued lead
Thy riches lie not only underground,
Thy fields with grains and luscious fruits abound
And busy cities dot thy varied scene,
The choicest one is rightly called the Queen. -
She regal sits, among her Ozark hills,
Each loyal subject S heart with pride she fills,
Resplendent with bright jewels from her mines,
She on her marble throne in ease reclines.
But these thy riches are not all We claim;
Thy sons have risen to honor and to fame,
Thy lovely daughters, fair of form and face,
Within thy homes preside with charming grace.
When Benton rose in Congress vaulted halls,
His mighty voice resounding from their walls,
When pointing to the land of sunset skies,
He said: There is the East-there India lies -
Incredulous the statesman looked and smileds
To hear this glowing praise of such a wild,
And little dreamed that in few short years.
Fulfilled would be these words of our loved
seer's.
Thy glorious past now lies on History page
A past unparalleled by any age,
Thy hopeful future, still unknown 70 thee,
Will make thee great for all eternity.
I'll cease to praise thee longer, Sovereign State,
Mag honors never dreamed of for thee wait,
May peace supreme reign in thy many halls,
MayGod in Heav n protect from harm thy walls