Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-03-05
MARTINsBURG. W. va. SATURDAY. MARCH 5. 1898.
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%MEST NIRGINIK.:ll.:, s..
BIZ cARLEroN HuGHEs.

Is EST XIRGININ..llss --.
BY CARLETON HUGHES.
In an Old Virginia homestead
Less than forty years ago.
There was trouble with the inmates
And the trouble seemed to grow,
One member owned negro.
And the other one horse;
So the taxes were unequal,
Which but made the trouble worse.
Then some soldier boys from Dixie
Came to WOO the Mountain Maid;
And betwixt them and the Mother
Many artful plans were laid.
But she did not care for Dixie,
So away from home she ram
And she sought and found protection
In the arms of Uncle Sam.
OF course there was a scrimmage,
And an awful lot of noise;
But the Uncle filled the homestead
With an army of his boys;
When the tussle all was over,
Then the trouble seemed to cease;
Through the kindness of the Uncle
InGB tHCy dill WCIC NJSQNt-Cu pCdCG4
AS the homestead was divided,
And the inmates were to part
Then the Daughter was determined
For herself to make start
So to learn of her possessions
She began to look about
When she found she owned kingdom
If twas only flattened out.
She had many chains of mountains,
And wales for corn and wheat
Which were average productive,
But her river was ''Cheat."
She had scenery ecstatic.
Cascade and mountain Till;
But she found the mountain gofges
Oft to be little ''still."
Her hills are lowered temples,
Where the clouds are banner furled;
And she has within her mountains,
Coal enough to warm the world
She has glades of wondrous beauty,
And her airs fount of health;
Whilst her iron is fortune
Which but aggregates her Us alth
She has fruits within her valleys,
And with nuts her forest teens;
She has bass within her rivers,
And has trout in mountain streams
She has game within her forests
Ard has golden wheat and tares;
She has spirits free of duty.
Full Of COLLINS, snakes and snares.
The cattle DER her pasture lands
Now in countless numbers go;
And through her subterranean caves
The rich oil deposits flow.
The gas that drives her industries
Fen within her bosom swells;
Yet the kind that woos her people
Is not all confined to wells.
To the slave she offers freedom,
To the poor chance for wealth;
To the loyal worthy-honor,
To the sick she offers health.
To the miner homelike comfort,
In part payment Tor his toll;
To the Scientist-surprises.
To the farmer virgin soil
So you see she's independent
She has freedom in the air;
All her sons are brave and loyal,
And her daughters pure and fair.
Her laws are those of justice,
And her statesmen not Ito let"
So her deed of separation
Has not been regretted yet
Who may prophecy the future
OF this Mountain State of ours?
Whose birth was midst storm of death
From fierce coutending powers.
Whose aim in peace is progress.
And whose backward steps are few;
''1iontanf Sembey Libey1, -
Is her motto trite and true.
God bless our West Virginia,
Keep her in the ways of right;
Nav no plague be with her people
Nor her harvest have blight.
May success be always with her,
AS her land with plenty teens
AS her star in radiant beauty
On our country's banner CLEANS.
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