Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-06-14

until at the last day, when God will re-
veal to the wondering myriads of hui
manity their names and deeds of valOr.
But although, like Moses, their place of
burial is hidden from us, yet are they
not forgotten, as is testified by that beau
tiful poem, "Somebody's Darling" one
verse of which will quote.
Somebody's waiting and watching for him,
learning to hold him again to their breast,
And there he hes, with his blue eyes dim,
And the smiling, child-like lips apart.
Tenderly bury the fair young dead
Pausng to drop on his grave n tear.
Carve on the wooden slab at his head,
"Somebody's darling sumbers here"
But am reminded today that there are
Others than those who carried the KNAPP
sack and cartridge-boX who had hand
and heart in that great struggle for union
and freedom. The war of the rebellion de-
velOped what seemed like new race.
While two million fathers. husbands and
brothers went to the rescue of their coun-
try, the mothers, wives and daughters
cultivated the farms, worked in the shops,
tended the stores, and took care of the
children
"The women drove the rafting loom, and
gathered in the hay,
For all the youth worth love and truth were
marshalled Tor the fray.
And then, again, the war introduced a
thousand Florence Nightngaes, whose
kindly ministrations among the sick in
the hospital and among the wounded on
the field of battle made pain endurable
and dying easy for those who could not
live. In memory of those noble women,
"of whom the world was not worthy"
let us Irvine two garlands, one for the
graves of the dead ana one for the brows
of the living.
But have still another wreath which
! must bring, but not for a grave oh no
| will twist it of green olive branches in
terspersed with aromatic flowers, and
then will not put it upon the graves of
the dead, but will put it upon the brows
of the soldiers and sailors who fought
and suffered, but still live. in whose name
the poet has written these beautiful
words:
praise to the men, the lowly, great,
Who made us what we are
Who lit the flames which yet shall glow
With radiance brighter far.
Glory to them in coming time,
And through eternity,
Who burst the captive's CALLING chain
And made our country free"
1t is time we stopped postponng until
men are dead the honor they ought to have
while alive. And so, although you have
put of the accOutrements of war, we will
not forget your services. We tender you
our thanks today in the name of govern
ment reconstructed, and of a land re-
deemed from all serlitude, so that from
where the sun rises on the eastern coast
to where it sets on the Sierra Nevadas, its
burning eye cannot discover a single
bond-man. Thank God that we live in
this free land, with determination that
by the help of God we always will be
free. But, my friends, these garlands
will all wither. 1t will not be two weeks
before their beauty will be gone from
them. Even those they call ''everlast-
llSS III dlleI dWIlllt ldllt anu scatter.
1t seems to me on this great national
occasion there ought to be a more perma-
} nent offering to the institutions and asy-
; lums. Where are the men who were
crippled and disabled by the war? 1t is
: high time, says one of our greatest Amer
lean lights, THAT the soldiers who suf-
! fered for their country, having lost an
, arm or a leg, should have no longer, i'm
? order to get livelihood, to grind hand
? organs at street corners They want
: bread, not posies. Then, while you re.
| member the dead, look also after the chill
! dreD of these heroes, gather them to the
e best of schools, send them to the best
1 colleges and Summaries of learning
: Teach the names of the battle-felds on
f which their fathers fought. Yea, let
this lesson come to all our children and
t what Marathon was to the Greeks in
r the way of a thrill, let Malvern Hill
D 'Kenesaw Mountain, Shiloh and Get.
q tysburgh he to our children"
In conclusion suffer me to commend
I the object of your organization. 1t is tc
: perpetuate brOtherly feeling growing out
= of common sacrifices and hardships, tc
s render assistance to your sick and needy
? comrades, to pay the debt of friendship
: which the living owe to the remains OF
b the dead, to aid and assist the helpless:
e widows and orphans of deceased com
G rades. We rejoice in your object, and
Y heaven smiles upon it, | am sure.
@ Although younger than many of you
still allow me this word of eXhortation
1 As you have fought the battles of your
,. country, so'tight the good fight of faith
4 As you rejoice today in the nations new
r life, which is the flower of your victory
@ so may you come through all life's con
flicts as Victors to the blessed peace OF
heaven. "There everlasting spring abdes