Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-09-27
West Virginia.
ny n. L. SNYDER.

Eucnau0Odn.
Daughter of the Stars.
BY the toll OF countless ages has torn down her
rocky bars
From the viuey of the Valley and its fields
OF wheat and corn,
From the land of wine and honey, ruthless
from its mother ioru-
From splendid western borders, facing
toward the setting sun,
That with great toll aud danger from their
savage hosts were won,
Where the mighty. broad Ohio, flowing on so
strong and free,
Bears the commerce OF an empire from the
Mountains TO the sea-
From the stern and rugged counties stretched
along onr northern line,
Where men grow tall and sturdy like their
heuiiock and their pine.
Aud the busy hum of industry from workshop
and from mill
Tells OF Genius's great triumphs and Labor,s
wondrousskill-
And from our southern boundary, where lie
the sunny fields,
And the earth her richest treasures TO the
delving miner yields,
Where the iron horse. shrilly shriekiug, starts
the easle from his crag,
And the axe of spelling woodman sounds
where rosmed the bear aud stag
Aye! rom every bill and valley, from noun
tain and from plain,
Sweiis forth the splendid chorus, telling in it's
proud refrain
The grand achievements of a people who by
divine decree
Have Progress as, their motto, "Mountaineers
Are Free"
In the days of the beginning, ere mankind was
given birth,
The Creator with his riches filled the breas, of
Mother Earth.
| In His wisdom aud His goodness vastest treas
ures there were stored,
Waiting silent through the ages human effort
toreward.
And of this great benefceuce, so reeallv pre-
pared,
Our State above all other States the bouuties
rich has shared.
Our valleys, fair and fertile. yield their pro-
ducts OF the best
The cattle on our thousand hills find rich past
ures to the crest.
Our forests of prmeval growth In great, un
measured tracts,
Still thckiy stand and yet invite the ever
conquering axe.
The giants of the centuries, the maple, oak
and pine,
Await the stroke that LAYS them low each fo,
its own design.
And through the hills and mountains with
certainty trace
Great dusky veins of splendid coal, ods' best
gift TO the race.
The latent force and energy, a million years
compressed,
Burst forth TO move universe. obeying man .
behest.
Even from the bowels OF the earth gush forth
for human use
Thick streams OF oil, unfaiIing az the widows
ancient cruse,
While flames strange as ever burned at
Mystc's altar FIRE
Press up from Natures reservoirs and yield to
mau's desire.
Oh! such blessings ne'er we're given TO sove. =
eign state before,
Opportunity ne'er opened half so wide her goI
den doori
For the resolute aud faithful, tho indnstriou 6
ard strong.
The harvest rich Is wa ting TO reward the
striving tbrong.
But It's not our rich resources thai shall max e
truly great
! Men of brains aud strength and virtue still
must constitute the state.
Noble aims aud high endsavor, patr iotic deed /,
and pure,
Must be woven Il our build nz If the structure
shall endure.
Der ambitions must De tempered by desire to
do the right-
Creed OF gold and power our best efforts often
blight.
Negleetiui Of our duty to our God and fellow
men,
our isurei Vreaths shall witber and return 10
dust again.
Let our uplauds liit US higher. till our very
being thrills
With the sweetness and the grandeur Of onr
West Virginia hills.
Ard the privilege of living in esrtb's choicest
dwelling place
Shall make us blest through ali the ages DER
the others Of our race.
SO with our lovely women, a. virtuous a. fair.
nd our meu Of pure ideals. ready each his
part TO bear,
Well form a grand dominion. patriotic. clean
and strong,
That shall stand for truth and Justice and per
pctuate no wrong.
Theu. al haii to west virginia. Forward
march with steady stride,
In faith aud hope aud wisdom may our ship
c'er safely glide.
And through the ares set 10 come Jet the
world our progress see,
And revere our stainless motto. "Mountaineers
Are Always Free.~
he above poem was read by Mr..
snyder at the meeting of the West
Virginia Editorial Association held
at Webster Springs last week. Mr.
Snyder vas reelected Poet Of the
Association.