The state herald., 1897-07-02
ushers in the eventful anniversary,

and now,
''No sleep till morn"
or thereafter! You begin to dream Of
the olden time that tried souls" when
men started from their couches at the
roar of foreign lion: and there!-
crack!-near your window goes OFF a
gun. or something worse. You console
this may be the first and the last salu-
tation SO near at hand; and with this
reflection you are falling into a deli
cious lapse. when. there!-another is
heard. nearer still. And such another!
You listen, and wonder whether the in
strument burst or not. almost hoping
1t did, in order to terminate this seren-
ade of thunder. Well, you about con-
clude an actual explosion took place,
and you begin to fear the Juvenile Ju-
piter has been kicked over and wound
ed in the cause Of his country. In
your sympathy for the fallen patriot.
you listen anew, and are tempted to
turn out to his relief. when-by the
shadow of Pluto and all his subterran-
can armory!-right under your win
dow, bellows such another gunpowder
illumination as you never expect to
hear again. No matter. however. for
the occasion gives moment to the most
trifling circumstances. and you feel
reconciled with thoughts on the bless
edness of liberty. Yet. with remnant
OF desperation. you wish all the sui
phur and saltpetre OF the under king
like that which Milton ascribes to the
inventive genius OF Satan. and touched
on at once and forever.
But the sun is up. and the rock
ribbed hills" tremble at dawn with the
echoes. From yonder tall stan streams
the banner high and gay In the morn
ing light and breeze--a ribbon sail
strung out from the neecy cloud on
which the angel of freedom rides in
the heavens over the nations OF earth.
Angel OF Columbia. weep not. for
though millions beneath thee groan.
yet little while longer, and the shout
that rings from Maine to Oregon shall
be the shout OF race redeemed from
the last bond. Now mellowly mlngles
| the sound of martial music with the
morning air. Gay troops march, with
gay plumes and glistening arms. along
the thoroughfare, as proud OF them
selves as the boys are who march by
their side. In anarchial file. keeping
time with fife and drum. Room. room,
now, for the land-sons OF Neptunc,
with coats Of many hues and Joseph
shirts. dragging their tridents behind,
| trimmed and trusty for the raging con-
fagration. And then come, Flora. with
her fairy band. decked Ia green and
blossom array. moving onward In gen
tie and smiling procession. like a now
cry island floating down the meadow
stream, to the music OF nymphs and
the ripping Of Eden waters. The bells
ring In joyous peal. and each stroke oi
the metal thrills the tramping multi
iudc with a shock OF indchnable enthu-
siasm. Great thoughts Of the glory
| and greatness OF the country swell In
many bosom. wholly unused TO any
extraordinary emotions. With what
profound awe and admiration does
that youth stand yondcr In the street.
now wildly gazing. with eyes and
mouth wide open. Arst at the crowd.
and then at the banners strung from
chimney to chimney. and stecplc to
x,,anioi Tho iawn foIka fnkc him IN
be an unripc vegetable. Just because
he wears what he plcnses-boots for
service, more than for squcaking-
coat. bob-skirtcd and gray. rather than
rudely Haunting. and boll-crowncd
hat caprlclous enough to hold all tho
gingerbread he can afford to purchase.
Well. II he has no right to look M he
plcascs. nor to thrust his hands deep
aA..