The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-07-09
AN ODE TO SOUTH DAKOTA
BY o. f. Murray, Phi. d., Murdo, S. d.
breath of life

Our South Dakota once was said to be devoid of rain"
OF vegetation destitute no growing grass II grain,
1t then was called a desert land-American it's name,
When Sioux did hunt the buffalo and countless other game.
But, Oh, how things have changed-the rains fall on it now,
And every blessing follows in the burrows of the plow.
God bless our Sunshine State and make her good and great;
God bless our humble prairie homes; God bless our Sunshine State"
God bless her rulers. keep them pure, and brave, to fight all sin;
God bless her humble pioneers, may they the victory win.
Great victories we have attained DER old and hoary wrong
And yet there are Gonaths waiting Davids sling so strong.
God bless Dakota men from hill, o field or glen;
God bless I'll rulers n and all, God bless Dakota men.
Our sturdy settlers change the face of nature by their toll,
And prove the cracking voices false who would this land despoil
The fences come. wild herds depart. the cowboys bunch is sold;
No more the wild and woody west" that tale of life is told.
We have the best If common schools endowed with land secure.
A sturdy &C. of pioneers the wilderness reclaimed,
For fruit and grain and flowers grow where ere the land is tanned,
And schools and cities follow o where the land drank blood.
Our citizens are brave o stand against deeprooted wrong,
For under God the people rule" has been their theme and song.
God a the Sunshine State from evils old and great;
God bless and guard the home we love, God save the Sunshine State"
Dakota land now leads the van for health, and wealth and thought,
And may she nobly cherish these best gifts S dearly bought
That helps the country boy and girl, and aids the city poor.
God bless and keep Is free from every enemy;
God bless u churches, homes, and schools, God bless and keep US free.
A Roosevelt saw u cowboys ride, and coveted their dash.
Thus anne the famed roughriders who took San Juan with a crash.
When Funston called for volunteers to ford and fight for him
1t was Dakotas gallant First" who dared the Passig swim,
And how the Filpnos IA before Dakotas braves
Who snatched a victory from defeat and fought mid raging waves.
God bless the prairie land, in honor may she stand;
God bless her praires, rivers, hills, God bless the prairie land.
We've pine clad hills of forestry, the distance makes them BLACK"
And they raise untold riches so o good thing do they lack.
The CLINT of gold is in the streams, and underneath the ground,
With silver copper mica. tin in great abundance found,
The richest miles beneath the u are these same rec clad Hills"
Where SHOWS and springs flow down the sides and fish each streamlet fills
God bless Dakotas hills, God bless her shaded rs,
Where all is picturesque and grand; God bless Dakota's hills.
Like liquid gold her great fields lie, Is far as "a be seen.
Beneath the blue and heckless sky lin mingled russell green.
l hear each year the reapers song in joyous cadence swell
For they in patience waited long and worked both hard and well.
They broke the sod and stirred the soil o richly, darky, dun,
And for these efforts of their toll rich harvests have they won.
God bless our fertile fields, and grant abundant yields;
God bless the wheat, aEd OATS, and con, God bless Dakotas fields.
Editors Note The foregoing as written by MI. Murray at the reQue
of former Governor Robert s.. vessey and dedicated to him. MI. Murray can
to South Dakota in 1882 and took preemphon at Alexandria. He a paste
Of churches at that place, Deadwood and Woonsocket. He graduated in 49,
from the Mitchell theological seminary