Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-02-23

4
Clad in the garments quaint of long ago ?
Can we not fancy how they did debate
On the best means TO fight the fiery foe ?
There first our Union Company was formed,
And many noble name its records yield;
Men with yirginia's bes t blood in their veins.
Men who have honored her in Hall and field.
And where tonight is all that gallant Band,
Alas Mount Hebron's shades enclose them
all;
We knew them only in their hoary age,
We saw them pass, as leaves in Autumn fall,
Not one is left. all, all of those brave men
Are wrapped in dreanless sleep upon the
Hill;
We carry on the work that they began,
We keep their names upon our records STILL
And on through varied years of War and
Peace,
Our Union Company has nobly stood;
And side by side with other fremen here
Have brayely iabored for our citys good.
Now. would my lips were touched with sacred
fire,
That golden eloquence its tongue would
lend;
To teach me how to speuk in loftier tones,
To voice our gratitude to him, Our Friend.
But grateful thoughts are oft too deep for
words,
And language seems too cold, the heart to
reach;
And like the tender blossoms in our hand
The petals fall from off the bloom of speech.
But glowing eloqueuce can faint convey
Our grateful thoughts, and words are cold
and tame;
But were we silent, even the dumb walls
His bounty rears us, would speak to our
shame.
But we will backward turn the tide of years
To when he came to us in life's fair Spring
And oft we wonder if in faucy's glass
He saw the veal and woe that life would
bring.
Success came to him as it comes to all
Who bravely work with willing heart and
hand;i
But like the clouds that oft obscure the sky,
Stern wars dark pail was hung DER all our
land.
Then round the campfire on the tented field,
Or where the sod was dyed crimson hue;
Wherever duty called, or honor led,
Young Rouss was ever found both brave and
true.
He was but one among the thousands more
of unknown heroes of that far-of day;
Aud when fate's stern decree had conquered
them
He sadly laid aside his garb Of Gray.
And started out to climb the mountain path
That upward winds unto the goal-success;
Steep WAS the path, aud stormy was the way,
Yet fortune did at Last his efforts bless.
Aud blessing him it blessed full many moro
For good the elements that in him blend;
His human love pours through his generous
hand,
And thousands bless the name of Rouss,
o ur Frien.
Point to the sAlmn Mater of your sires,
The mother, too, of many scholar herei
Her old traditions were our nations pride.
And each virginian's heart has held her dear
There MonticelIo's Sage engr aved his name.
Aud hither came the best blood in our land
When it was wrapped within fiery shroud.
The generous Rouss gave with princoiy
hand.
And now far more than Monarch ever gave.
He gives to save the records Of the asi;
To guard the memories of a noble age,
And build 4 shrine that shaIl for ages last.
a Battle Abbey. where our deathless dead
May leave mementoes to future time;
And in the future many here viii come,
Aud gather themes for history and Rhyme
And our old town. is as a monument
On which is craven many n generous deed,
Full deep he carvcs his name upon our hearts
And future ages will the record read.
Bnt we will celebrate this natal day.
With grateful words, as on the years shall
roll,
Each Fireman's heart to Rouss viii ever be
as true as is the needle to the pole
But sorrow thrills through every heart tc
night,
That he our splendid Hall may never see.
That not for him the golden sunbeans bright
Go shimmerins DER the mountain and th
lea
But like the bread upon the waters cast,
Be every kindly action he has do7ei
And far beyond the beams of earthly light,
Is that by noble. generous conduct " n
Aud may this light be DER his waning years,
Aud may those years bring him sweet Peac
and rest
Such rs broods Ger US of Summers Eve,
| When sinks the sun into the golden West