The herald., 1896-07-05
THE CHILDREN PARTICIPATE
Interesting Exercises Held in the First
Congregational Church
Patriotic Recitatlons and Mu sicai Selections
Original Poem Read by Mrs. Chaplin.
Address Of rlrs. Blanchard

In the First Congregational church
yesterday afternoon special exercises for
the children of the city were held, IN
which patriotic surroundings. national
music. speeches inspiring to love of coun-
try and reverence for American history
all combined to instill, beside the natural
love of firecrackers. a true regard for the
glorious Fourth.
Surrounding the interesting congrega-
ton Of little folks was goodly audience
of children of all ages. The exercises
were in charge of Mrs. NJ. A. Chaplin and
were beautifully ushered in with a stir
ring bugle call by Mr.. o. T. Thomas of
Pico Heights. The entire audience then
rose to sing America, led by Mr. j. A.
Williams. Prayer followed by Mrs.
Maud Roller. Three young girls, the
Misses Ina Poun, Zella Thomas and Bon
ME Lynn. then appeared on the platform
arrayed in the emblematic colors of the
Stars and Stripes. Each recited in turn
pretty composition on the history OF
the flag. bearing on the color assumed.
Mrs. Lou Chaplin presented the most
notable feature of the program in a
beautifully written essay. portraying in
poetic language the signification of the
Stars and Stripes; the struggles that
bore 1t triumphantly aloft as the ma
tons insignia; and many pretty lessons
derived therefrom for the instruction Of
the young. The following original poem
was also read by Mrs. Chaplin for the
| first time:
THE STORY OF THE FLAG.
| Ye sons of sires who kindled fires
To light the darkness of earth,
| Whose travail shook the womb of Time
And gave to fair Liberty birth;
| Remember those whose hOnOreu dust
HallowS our native soil;
And what they wrought and yalor bought,
By Gods help swear to hold
With the power of right and the arm of
might,
Let tho cannon crash and the wild bells
clash.
Our peace was forged with heavy blows.
And was Graded in storm and stress.
Flame of guns was its natal torch.
And mid shout and the battle cry
These stars were born, earnest of morn.
or Times most glorious day,
And set in the blue of fealty true.
For freedom lighted the way.
These stripes were dyed in the crimson tide
That flowed by the eastern seas.
Sing their hero-dirge to the breeze;
And where the Gulf, by southern shores,
Murmurs by night and day.
Washing the sands of tropfc lands,
Red blood was poured like rain;
And this flags bright bars and its shining
Have been sanctified by pain.
From many mast fixed firm and fast
Its taunt was flung to the foe,
And. rent by shrielIing shot and shell,
Its bright shreds to and fro.
Swayed as If casting benson
On those whose glazing eyes
We're turned with moan. and dying groan,
Through dreadful reek and smoke,
To the banner brave, that new courage
gave.
And peace to their anguish spoke.
It has f1oated high, against the sky,
Der many trampled field:
Round it the surges of war have rolled.
While thund ring artillery pealed.
And where that glorious flag was reared
The altar-stone was set
And from the breast of the bravest and
best
The warm red wine was spilled.
That washed the black spot of the nations
blot
The wound of Its SHINING healed.
After another interlude of music Mrs.
Blanchard made an address. particularly
adapted to her youthful audience, in
which she recounted the many advan-
tages that had followed in the victory
for freedom. dwelling specially on the
wonderful strides of free education and
of the equal privileges accorded to
womankind. She then tried to i'm
bue into the young minds beautiful
lessons of morality and temperance as
| we'll as the absorbing inculcation OF
| patriotism.
Mrs. zella Thomas sang in a sweet
voice The Flag of the Free, and Master
| Hubert Cornish, with much fire and true
| patriotic spirit, recited The American
Flag. Music by the band concluded the
| interesting exercises.