Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-12-24

Step after step. Orken what sorrow
Or joy awaits us on the morrow
We grasp at any mystic lore,
For what the future has in store,
We cropping search for any key,
That may unlock the mystery;
Yet still, we know not what awaits
! Beyond tomorrow's cose-barred gates.
/ But as our day draws near its close,
And onward, swift, LIES riv err flows,
Toward that immense and soundess sea,
The ocean of eternity;
We backward turn our failing gaze,
While through the distance -dimming
haze,
Of time and memory, we but see
The fair page of life's history.
The SOIL ow, suffering and fears,
Are softened by mist of tears;
While happy days, unmarried by grief,
Stand ever out in bold relief,
Their radiance shining from afar,
With all the luster of a star.
Inspired by love, that never dies,
The love good home typifies,
A woman's heart, woman s hand,
A brain to plan and to command,
Sought how she might the best express,
A daughters love and thankfulness
And keep in memory years to come
Her family name and dear old home.
No useless monument should grace
The spot made sacred to her race;
No shaft that, towering to the sky,
Compelled the gaze of passers-by;
But something useful, something grand
AS well as beautiful should stand,
Fit setting for the name she thought
To have above its portal wrought.
And musing thus she swift evolved
This gift; and thus the problem solved.
And PhoeniX-like there rose at last.
From ashes of hallowed past,
This fair Memorial to the name
And family from whence she came;
Embodying from base to dome
A tribute to her childhood home.
Man lives but for brief, brief space,
Then lies in his last resting place;
Dust unto dust, beneath the sod,
His soul returning to his God,
While trees he planted cast their shade,
About the home his hands have made;
And strangers dwell within the walls,
Where far it's own sad echo calls.
We walk their paths as they have
walked,
We talk with friends as they have
talked.
We laugh and sing and weep and sigh,
! And lay US down, like them, to die.
/ Forgotten Yes, unless we give
Of our best work, while yet we live;
Unless we ever strive to make
| This world better place, and take
From what the r-burdened bear,
Some portion of the toll and care,
| Upon our shoulders; or, may be,
IT'S just the touch of sympathy;
Some altruistic word or deed,
That reaches out to human need;
! That lightens labor for the weary,
Or brightens pathways dark and dreary.
Today, upon these walls we've placed
A tablet; and the names there traced
Are honored dead, who, one and all,
Responded to their country's call,
Nor dreamed of doing aught to give
Them place in history to live,
Or that within the halls of fame,
EmblaZoned would be every name.
O men, so brave and strong and true,
We're glad this day to honor you;
Our ancestors, who, sleeping, lie
Beneath the over arching sky,
Secure from harm, from pain and want
Among the green hills of Vermont.
Thrice blest, beyond her fondest dreams
The Mary Baker Allen seems;
Toihave gift so rich and rare,
For her to use, for her to share,
Conferred upon her; no least thing
Omitted, that could comfort bring,
Or pleasure give. o friend most true,
And sister of our order, too;
Sincerest thanks we tender thee.
Devoutly, as on Bonded knee,
Wen bring our treasured relics here,
Our Lares and Pen ties dear,
And hither will we often come
And make this house our Chapter home
Wen beautify it and preserve it,
And try our best to well deserve it,
Endeavoring to make you proud
That you re one of this Cornwall crowd
OF d. A. R. s. And here today,
With grateful hearts we come, to say,
This sacred trust we dedicate,
To all things good. to all things great,
10 high ideals and noble deeds,
Without regard to varying Creeds;
TO patriotism ard upright living,
To kindness and generous giving,
To innocent and harmless pleasure
Enjoyed in its fullest measure.
And may the Lord His blessing bring
To crown your filial offering.