The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-27
COLUMBIA's BANNER.

SIOQ uetFlu& C1ieo Soiouooos 1ooN6H
fair or foul the breeze,
I will sail and sail till 6nd the land beyond
the western seas ~
So au eagle might leave its eyre, bent
though the blue should bar,
To told its wings on the loftiest peak of &C
undiscovered star
Aud into the vast and void abyss he followed
the settiog sun
Nor gulfs nor gales could fright his sails till
the wondrous quest was doue.
But Oh, the weary gigi!s, the murmuring,
torturing days,
Till the Pin,a's gun, and the shout OF
Gland l'' set the black pieht sblazel
Till the shore lay fair as Paradise in morn
ing's balm and gold,
And world was Won from the conquered
deep, and the tale Of the ages told
Uplift the stsrry Banner The best age is
begun
We are the heirs of the mariners whose voy-
age tha, morn done.
Measureless lands Columbus gave and rivers
through zones that roll,
But bis rarest, Hobeet bounty was New
World for the Soul
For he sailed from the Past with lts sitting
And the ghosts Of gloom and fear were laid
as the breath of heaven went by;
And the pedant's pride and the lordling's
ecorn were lost, 10 the vital air.
AS fogs are lost when SUP aod wind sweep
ocean blue ana bare
And Freedom aud larger Knowledge dswned
clear, the sky to span,
The birthright, not of priest or king, but Of
every child of man
Upiift the New Worlds Banner 10 greet the
e1oltaut sun
Let ;ts rosy CLEANS still follow his beams es
swift to the west they run,
Till the wide air rings With shout and hymn
to welcome it shining high,
Aud our eagle from lone katabdin to Shas
ta's suew can fly
10 the light of its stsrs as fold oa fold i5
6aoe to the autumn sky
Uplift it Youths aod Maidens, with songs
aod loving cheers;
Through trinmphs, raptures, it has waved,
through agonies and tears.
Columbia looks from sea to sea aod thrills
with JOY to know
Her myriad sons, as one, would leap to
shield it from foe
AQQ yOU WUO ooOu VIII 10 iuc Stdke; dUu
shape each decree,
Oh, vow to live and dis for it, If glorious
death must be !
The brave of all centuries gone this starry
Flag have wrought;
In dugeons dim, ou cory fields, its light aud
peace were bought;
Aud yoa who front the enture-whose days
our dreams fulfill
On Libertys immortal height: oh, plaot it
6rmer still
For it doats for oroadest learning for the
SOULS supreme release
For Law d,sdaioiug license for righteousness
AID peace;
For valor born of justice, aed i,s amplest
scope snd plan
Makes queen of every woman, king of
every man
While forever, like Count bus, o'es TRUTHS
unfa,homed main
1t pilots to the hidden isles, grandef realm
to gain.
Alb what mighty trust is ours, the nobest
ever suog,
To keep this Banner spotless its kindred
stars among
Our Hee,s n ay saroug the ocears-our forts
the besdlauds crowo-
Our mioes their treasures lavish for mint and
mart the town-
Rich fields aud focks and busy looms bring
plenty, far and vide
And s,aieier temples deck the land shan
Rone's or Athens pride
Add science dare the mysteries Of earth and
brave the sky-
Till none with Us in splendor and strength
and skill can vie;
Yet, should we reckon Liberty aud Manhood
less than these,
And slight the right Of the humbess be-
tween our circliog seas
Should We be false to our sacred pss,, our
fathers God forgetting,
This Baoaer would lose irs lus,er; our suu
be nigh his setting
BIT the dawn will sooner forget The east, the
tides their ebo aud 6ow,
Than you forge. OR radiant Flag and its
matchless gifts foreso
Nay you will keep i, high advanced with
ever frightening sway
The B4nuer whose light betokeas the Lord g
diviner day
Leading the nations gloriously in Freedom 8
holy way
No c!ord on toe field of ezare-no stain on
the rosy bars
God bless you, .oufbs aud Haidens. as you
guard the Strips and Stars
-Edna Dean Proctor.