Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-19


The South defiant rave.
It crashed from 6umter;s failing fort
Der the Atlantic waves.
Il Numbered 70 the startled North.
I'VE win not let them 80.
FOLLOW your nag With The stars and
Ours the stars With the bars below"
0 land beloved, was ever doom
So sad, 80 sore AZ thine.
To see thy sons In deadly strife
In battles awful tine!
IA >
The spirit OF their valiant sires
Lived In the SONS Of Wayne.
II sent them forth IN youth and strength,
60me came not back again.
Yet l0yaaly, on sea and land,
The Nag their fathers rave
Stout hearts and willing hands up bore
And shed their blood to save.
The story OF those years of pain
Heroic deeds rcliearse.
A stainless shield the nation bears,
Redeemed from slavery's curse
The nag of old. the stars and stripes,
Baptized In blood. now waves
Ger South and North. alike beloved,
Der loyal homes and graves.
Thus through these years OF mingled pain
and pleasure,
\ OF good and Ill,
The steps of Wayne have kept their even
measure
And hold 1t still.
Not hers to gain the crown of great
achievement
And win mems praise:
Content she serves Humanity and Duty
In lOwlier ways.
Nor can she claim among earth's wor-
shipped great ones
Many iMustrious names
But all who owe their birth and nurture
to her
Bring honor and not shame.
Some have won name and fame In distant
places,
Yet love to come
And breathe the fragrance Of the air Of
summer
In the old home.
And one, whose voice of melody out-ri-
Va,S
The hermit thrush that sings
In forest shadows when the twilight
deepens.
Has charmed the ear Of kings.
Responsive to the calls of truth and
To every thought
That seeks to bless and help an errin7
brother.
Wayne's energies are brought.
SO in her midst are cherished and defend
By steadfast minds
The sacred ties that link the earthly
workers
With the Divine.
" holesome and pure as her own hillside
breezes
Her civic life,
Though differing in honest thought and
No malice holds or strife:
Fer the strong bond, the hearts Of all
uniting.
Love of her name,
Impels her sons to act In mutual concord.
Worthy her fame.
Thus. of her past. record true and no.
BILE,
This simple lay is sung:
But forward, Of her future. who shall tell
With prophets tongue?
WIN there come changes In the Old-time
beauty
OF lakes and hills and streams,
When the wild rose will no more haunt
the waters
Where snowy lilies CLEAN?
When DER the fern-sweet hills in early
Autumn
Once bright with golden rod.
Through Spring-time. meadows sweet
with violets ~ r'fisf
And daisy-starred the sod.
The ruthless wheels of modern art and
progress,
OF growth and enterprise
Shall onward roll. till the familiar land
scape
Is changed to loving eyes?
And the twin villages. enlarging borders.
Shall meet and clasp their hands.
BouEd not alone by cordial ties fraternal
But steel and iron bands?
Yet, from the future. mortal hand may
never
withdraw the veil:
Wisely content are they who leave Its is
sues
With Him who cannot fail.
His guiding Hand that led our fathers
hither
We trust 1t still:
A century of blessings rich has proved
Him.
He cannot work us i'll.
To those who follow in our fieeting foot
steps
In years to come.
We leave in solemn faith and sacred
keeping
Our heritage and home.
Let no rude touch of evil or dishonOr
Tarnish her fame
But each succeeding year bring grace
and honor
To our loved Town of Wayne.