The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-02-16
AN oLn TINE poeF
Martin Maktlsen Whe Lived Year,
Age al North Bennington

THV ~ NOFAn bennington
Editor Of the Banner:-There has
just come to light a poem written
many years ago by Martin Madison
OF North Bennington, a poet OF much
ability. Mr.. Mattison died 80 years
ago this month, but several OF his
poems still survive as they bristle
with local hits and withal possess
poetic vigor and originality. The
author possessed jovial nature and
war endowed with mind we'll calcu-
lated to comprehend the fitness Of
things, full of mirth and humor His
Brass Buttons on a Furlough" had
a very wide circulation and was one
of the good things written during the
Civil war Perhaps his most endur-
ing work is the Circular for 1852,
written on the completion OF the rail-
road between North Bennington and
Bennington. At that time the depot
stood Immediately north Of the Dewey
crossing on Main street and In APP
preaching 1t the cars ran across the
pond on trestle. The Circular,
which consists of thirteen verses, en-
bodies the bitter feeling that existed
for long time between the two vii
lagos on railroad matters. In the
poem Mr. Madison refers to this vii
lage as 'Pollywog Station" Tiger
town" and "Algiers," all OF them OBJ
probrious terms. Two extracts from
the Circular" will give a good idea
| OF the whole production:
"Land-pirates, swindlers, gamblers,
| cheats,
Who selling rum the law defeats;
A ten-pin alley, hot-bed strife
OF cursing, drinking, brawling strife"
Again:
"All We who travel to and fro.
When Hercules begins to blow,
Beware! you're in the land of frogs;
The station they call 'Pollywogs.'
Hercules was the little fifteen ton
locomotive that was run between the
two villages for several years II 10
but justice to Mr.. Madison to say
that he harbored no ill-wlll toward
any man or community and the poem
Is only an expression OF his bound
less humor and satire.
Mr.. Madison now appears In an.
other vein. The poem, which has
never been published, was written al
the time OF the famine In Ireland and
shows in very striking way the
other side OF Mr.. Mattlson's nature.
H. c. Day.
The poem
The Famine in Ireland.
Lol in yonder land OF sadness,
Let the eye of pity rove
There no smile Of Joy or gladness
Can the veil OF sorrow move
Darkest horrors
Brooding DER famished land.
Meath the scourags OF British ty
rants,
Long in bondage they have ground
While to gid a monarchs spendor,
Their last pittance has been sold,
Naked, starving,
Let US send them quick relief.
In this lovely spot, where plenty
Crowns us with lavish hand
Can we see unmov'd by pity
Brothers in a foreign land,
\ IGroaning. dying.
And not give them speedy aid?
I Think. with what heart-rendins an
guish
You would listen to their groans!
Fathers. mothers. sisters starving.
Helpless children's stihed moansl
Oh, relieve them,
Surely this Is mercy's cause.
Then awake nor longer tarry,
See them dying all around;
HASTE the welcome message carr
That shall heal a nations wound.
Famine, famine.
Spreads her pail throughout the land
Sons and daughters. generous hearte,
You who hear mild PHYS plea.
VIII you greet them open handed
And their woes no longer seeg
God will bless you
And In giving you'll be blest.