Norwich bulletin., 1911-06-19
F0E'1RY.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH OF CANTERBURY. CONN

read by him on the 18th inst, at flne
81 centennial celebration Of the found
ing OF that church.)
Ear back on Canterbury Green.
Which westward slopes with graceful
mien,
Upstands the church, known as the
First,
plant among the naples nursed-
The trees around in green arrayed,
Cast freely down grateful shade.
And ripping through them goes che
sun,
Until its daily round is run.
Upon them fastens snow and ice.
Which glitters, then falls in a trice-
And from them drips and runs amair
The sparkling dew and gushing rain
The busy bees there find a hive.
And from annoyance free, do strive,
On rapid wings, to lay up food
Enough for winters solitude
No record shows how long they've
stood,
But they are rooted strong and GOOD:
And through their branches sharp
winds blow,
And troll the tunes Of long ago.
The birds, too, add the sweetest not
That ever poured from tiny tf1roats.
And build on limbs well sfestersa
nests
For their expectant infant guests.
adorned with coats ef red and browns
Their mathis sing, at break Of day.
And. vespers, when light fades away.
. !
At night, the liehtning bugs display
Their lucid beams. Ilnseen by day;
And ha1IIfrfv- x~xAu F<er eli
AS silently as stars that fall
School children play the o1dsn sanes
That bear the still familiar names
And play them, though they're ssronn
or weak.
When snow has covered up the ground,
They then in other sports absune;
Build forts, 70 cOa2tinn. fast or sseU
Aforetime, on each training day.
The farmers met, traditions gay,
And after marches Ger the Green,
They sought the shade In times be-
tween.
There cracked their jokes and talked
of fights
Which should be made for hurnsn
rights;
Went home again to till the land
Beneath the trees, on messy ground,
trusting place Was Sognstimes found
For friends and lovHs, fsied and true.
Who then expressed their minds anew.
Adjacent to them stood Of yora
The whipping post which, les or n1s~s.
Awakened fears in evil men
And helped to make them good again.
Or held them fast, when they vsvs
And served with laShae unuffipltsd
So often that the eu1Df11D vfhep4
And justice WIS, IA no way, N,1assa-
On one the old sign board was ssae1.
Which silently the newB reeHa1ed-
Revealed to corners far and near
The time and place Of meetings hsSs,
That should be voted - - down.
And answered tht0 . uoeltA end,
Like one who il, in Ned, a friend
And Ger their branches swsstty FILL
The music Of the SAbt1ueh taH.
Whose pleasing and fnvt<tag sound
Still calls to worship al arUurd.
Within the church the pulpit stands,
Suggestion of pure hearts and hands.
Exponent Of the Bibses laws
And ornament Of writes csuse.
Here long the clergy preached and
prayed,
AS they were armed with Heavens aid,
Restored the weak and. ssn-secefvea
And coinforted the sere-beresved
Taught and rspsoued the srrinx young.
ENCOURAGED and csu9arDred the strong,
Rebulged the indiscreot and so4d,
And SO, enlarged the Shepherds fold.
Here worshfpped WORTHLESS. long ago.
Whose names historic pages show
Were household words, in this cold
cline,
And wayrnaries on the lands OF time.
Here men and oa1i5drea were baptized,
We're Rsy,n what water syTnbolized,
And here the brides and bridegroons
stood
And welcomed bonds OF nuptisihood.
For God and Church and BesSshls-fs
And many in dark garments dressed
Were carried forth and Ie3d to rest.
o Time. what changes thou hast made
since we in manhood here 1fssyed
To cultivate this moral field.
And reap from 1t a goodiy yield
Butswhere are all We sought TO fescbs
To whom IL was our wont TO preseh2
Some still remain. some wancer woe
Some come not home, at eveptidet
Surprised. some quickly left their
nests.
Left. too. some nem'rie- in Our breasts,
And SCARED away 10 grand rstrests,
No more to I'LL tHefr vacant seats.
Good bve. old meeting house. Geod-
bye.
Good bye" said echo in reply,
When thoughts OF thee awake tear
We would come hack and drop u nsre'
Ye who survive, when we are gone
Regard il az a church alone.
As such. protect and let it stand
A beacon in this billy land,
MUCH IN LITTLE
Norway has large areas Of peat Dogs