Year: 1868

While by their side their numerous offspring move
The Just recipients Of parental love


No discord here to mar the happy scene,


But all content and in content serene.


But even there some tavorite son once theirs
No more the charms Of sacred home now shares.
For IN that hour when treasons reckless hand
Sought to dssever our thrice blessed land,


lie with our hosts our star-lt flag to save


Rushed to the field but only found grave.
Far, far away, no father mother there,


His last sad parting looks or words to share;
No loved companion by his side to tell


How true he fought, how met the foe and fell
But yet cen there the present joys displace


The mingled sorrows for his vacant place;


The tender offspring in their heartfelt glee


Contend in sports with conscious rivalry.


Now many sock mid jeers as well applause
Around each nook await for Santa Claus;
Full Of confding faith he will be found


10 leave choice presents on his annual round.


On! happy youth, in blessed innocence,


Whose teemng joys enlven every sense,


You little know the cares Of after life,


Its tolls, stern struggles and contending strife;
You little know how friendships come and wane


And ife's real struggles are at last all vain


You little know that wealth and crowning fame
Secure naught else beside an empty name;
While youth and health and vigor are your own
Let the true seeds Of virtue well be sown.


With duty well performed, by honor ruled
by dealings fair in truth and honor schooled:
BY all, in fne that makes an honest man,


And realize in each great natures plan.


Awake, my Muse, and wider scenes portray
The struggling nations and their acts survey.
Behold how man with frenzied madness driven
Scorns In his pride the righteous ways of Heaven.


Der the broad land his deadly arms has spread
And guts nsatiate DER the tombless dead
Whence should the earth in desolation reign
And thousands greve for those in battle slain? 7
Whence should the land to culture be denied,
With carnage strewcd and human blood be dyed?
Whence should the nations in fierce war engage,
Stern vengeance foster or envenomed rage?
Whence should the ties of social life be rent,
And boarded wealth be worse than idly spent?


Thus rank ambition, seeking highest place,
Will genuine promptings of the heart effacc
Think not no second Alexanders crave
New worlds to conquer, nations to enslavc.
Or that the world has never seen but one


Who Caesar like would cross the Rubicon,
With impous force his country to ensaye,
Dishonored die and fill a nations grave
Aye, no. who boasts an hundred battles won,
Would die in exile, or would fill throne.
In the broad deep mould of stern ambition cast


Tho peasant born would rule supreme at last.


But cease, my muse. Kind Patrons, yet to you
/ My parting words to you alone are due.
May peace and happiness your steps attend,


And as the year began SO may it end
| May each young miss faithful lover find,


Their fates ere long the Holy Bonds to bind


While they soon learn the Scrptural command


And thus increase and multiply the land.


May one and all the coming year supply


What each have lost by past delinquency.


May all the young in lasting wisdom grow,


And all the old, their thoughts on Heaven bestow.


Bright JOY to all, may peace their steps attend


Their lives to virtue but in goodness end.
/ May all in fine whateer their calling be-,


Be crowned with health and with prosperity
/ May gentle peace DER our broad land extend


And bitter strife of partizanship soon end.
/ And while each happy bosom swells with JOY,
/ Be not unmindful Of your CARRIER BOY.