The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-06-05
ThetfOrd Center.

Memorial Day was observed by 4. b.
Frost Post No. 81, &. A. r., holding tnelr
lsual services at Thetford Center. me
post formed at one O'Clock p. m. near tile
church and reinforced by company OF ile 9
Sons of Veterans and the schools ana leu
Nv the drum corps proceeded under COM
nand of Marshal S. K. Berry to the resi-
ience of Rev. w. H. White. where they
,O0k the speakers of the day and the w. H.
\. under escort and proceeded to the GENIE
,ery where the usual exercises were per-
formed, the graves of the fallen heroes
being decorated by detail OF yrterahs d az
he tap of the drum and the W II. v.
'eyerence. Services closed by singing
NV country, tits of thee" and the Dene-
fiction. The procession then proceeded 10
he church where the programme OF Uhe
lav was listened to by a large ana enthuSl-
,sfic audience. Services opened by slnglnS'
ollOwed by prayer offered by Key: >. Il.
Badger, after which the audience ilsteneu
o a stirring and eloquent address oy ReV'
W. II. White, who was tolloWtu ny NY.
J. E. Badger in an interesting nve nin aud
speech. The singing was eXcelitht, anu
,ithouph the house was crowded 10 lCS
,tmost the interest manifested ana the Soou
rider and quiet that prevailed was especlai-
v noticeable. Judging from the impressive
less of the service in the cemetery ana the
interest manifested in all that pertalned 10
he day and the large mum per vi people
,atherpd, it seems evident that inc interest,"
a Memorial Day is increasing as the years
20 by. ,,, ,,,os vr;++or
or the occasion by Capt. II. E. Brown, and
vas remarkably we'll read by Judge 3. Nj.
ileaS0D
In oden time, in very age,
We find by scanning historys page
Thu record shows in every iano
Wirh regal pomp and ageantS grano
Each nation sent into the hSnt
It's heroes brave to win the right,
And when at last the fight was won
By noble deeds OF valor Gone
Returning heroes OF those days
Were welcomed with Homeric lays
imperial walks with flowers were paved
By ieweled hands to greet their braves;
Trumphal arches span ed the way .
And heads were crowned with wreaths of bay,
And many brave and valiant son
The olive wreath OF honor won.
But greater still the honors paid
In meme ry OF the nations dead;
And he roeS oft in battle slam
/ costly ombs OF rich design
By tender hands were laid to rest,
By all the nation mourned and ble-t,
And monumental shafts arose
To mark the place Of their repose.
While high and low with loud acclaim
Sang paans TO the heroes name
The nation thus with one accord
With patrorc impulse moved
Der tombs exhau.t the pomp OF woe
To honor those who rest below.
So we to-day would honor tho.e,
Who saved our county rom Its foes
So DER this land oft liars rise,
And pointing upward to the skies
Proclaim TO all who pass hat way
They stand for those who in that day,
When in their countrys dire distress
Had built a bulwark with their breasts,
Between their country and its foes,
And sank beneath the numerous blows
or traitors IN rebelouS STRIFE,
Who madly sought the nations life.
Methnks see on yonder shore
or those who've passed that river Ger
mighty host OF those who fell,
And those who ably served and well
In that dire war, and now in peace
They tent in lands where war has ceased.
Andlo! Among that moving throng
Methnks | see some well konwn forms;
O would the talisman we knew
7 o summon them to nearer view
Well try by fancy's magic power
Both time and Cistance to Ignore,
And paint in goYin tints sublime
A panorama OF tfat time
Which shall reAec. Of that vast throng
Their noble deeds as they pass on.
And TO- in battles stern array
They seem y form they move this way;
Their shining shields, their armor bright
Clothed IN ,ne sheen of Colleen light;
Their bauIers to the breeze they've flung,
Their dr.hs beat off the trumpets sound;
Harli! h.ar ye not their martial tread?
A h no r silent move the dead.
They moNe in solid ranks as though
They'd pass along in grand review
Behold they come with noiseess tread
The legions OF the iilustrious dead
See martyred Lincoln leads, and o
A halo rests upon his brow;
He wea-s no sword but in his hand
He firmly grasps the mighty pen;
That p. with which one single stroke
The shackles from the mi lions broke;
That pen which woke the sumoerng North,
And brought its patriot leglcns iorth;
That pen which admiration woke
From earth famed men Oft as it spoke.
We fam would add one single gem
To that effulgent diadem
That crowns his brow, but see! no room
Remains to place more hOnorS on.
Close follows Grant with firmest tread
Who in that strife leg ons led;
selEposed. modest, silent man
Who wisely laid his plans, and then
A tower of strength with faith subllme
He fought and upon that line.
With Grant there comes on either hand
Brave Sherman and bold Sheridan,
Oh where the land so richly blest
With such heroic souls as this,
And where the land and when the age
Such trio brings upon the stage?
On, on they come, they throrg the ways,
r, calling scenes OF other days,
When Lyon charging in the str te
AT Wilson's creek lay down his LIFE,
And Wallace on that field OF gore
At Shiloh, alls to rise no mole
And noble Sedgw ck-who can tell
How mourned Vermont when Sedgwick fell?
Mcpherson at Atamas fight
ides to his death and sinks from sight;
Up Lockout dizzy he ghrs again
Brave Hooker charges with his mem
And Fansworth, o for words 10 tell
How bravely tamswo tn fought and fell,
How that brave band Of Nerm. nt's
In lha dreai charge by him led on
Around old Round Tops western vrge
&c ipsed SIX Hundreds famous ch-rge,
But who are those who follow On,
And seem to mingle with the tn ong,
With shining robes OF spotess white,
Whose crowns reflect the golden light?
All well you know those gentle ones
Whose silent step and soothing tones
Were round YOU in those days Of pain.
When wounds and fever racked your brain,
Who bravely followed where you led,
Were always near in times of need;
o none can tell and none can know
How much to woman's hand you owe,
Who on the field and tented plain
Bent DER your couch to soothe your pain;
All, who can name that mighty host
VINO still press on and seek to pass,
The radiance by their amor sh,d,
The Limbus resting on each head
Proclaims the rae liant luster caught
From the heroic DE- eds they've wroIght.
And o many private's brow
The halo rests with brighter glow
Than many who with higher rank
From equal risk and duty shrank.
So pass they on, and yer will
Their memory every patriot thrill,
And every heart shall honor those
Who brought our country back repose.
And while up their graves each year
We suew the flowers and crop the tear,
For those beneath the sacred sod
Who to their country and their God
Gave up their lives that might dwell
Beneath the flag we love 50 we'll,
That flag our fathers left tou,
Bought by their blood. sacred trust,
Wen not forget that remnant band,
Who, Scattered DER this blood bought land
In patience wait for orders from
The Great Commanders throne to come.
NoJ Oft compare your Country's state