Year: 1873

We give you all welcome here in this spacious hall
These old Pioneers, who assemble here today,
Most all had their birthplace in lands far away
Some came from merry England and were born in


Cork


Some had their birth in Canada and some in "Old New


York"


New England Yankees from off her rocky coast,
And like the frogs of Egypt, there mighty host
New Jersey sent tew-about half score
Virginia doubled that-perhaps triae more:
Her noble, hardy sons first upon the ground
And fourandforty years ago took Little Prairie Ronde
Our sister, Indiana, that's just the line
Sent up troop of Hoosiers-a stalwart and fine.
Ohio furnished Buckeyes-their help We needed much;
While old Pennsylvania sent up the honest Dutch.
No matter bout your birth place. matter from what land
We welcome you brothers "pld Settlers band "
We welcome you, our brothers in labor, toll and care
We welcome you sisters, you've noby done your share
The hardhps have suffered have served like iron bands
To bind firm together-to bind hearts and hands
And shared each others trials and borne each others load
We drank the cup of sorrow with many bitter sigh;
We all have drank togetherwc drank the fountain dry
Although your forms bending, your step somewhat


slow,


Your faces much wrnkled than thirty years ago;
Although you lean crutcbc your heads vered Ger
|" Old Pioneers love you loved in days OF yors
We hail you, noble brothers. az the early Pioneer;
T o.l,. 7 u.l,.


I've you in your cabins have slept upon your floor
our house had not window blanket formed the door
1t scarcely one story-no help to raise it higher
Your wives then did the cooking doors there by fire.
Sometimes you had plenty at morning, night noon
Sometime your stock shortened squirrel coon:
And though your stock scanty among you
But what you raised the banket-I felt myself home
I've you in your sorrow your hunger and despair
When cornmea aud potatoes made up your bill of fare
You had a little clearing around the cabin door,
1t might have been acre-perhaps a little more
You burned away the brushoap the logs you did heed
But planted right them your and pumpkin seed
The soil rich and fertile quite free from cods and Jumps
The pumpkin vines for Of cept the logs and


rtumps


And then for their protection you hedged round about
With jamples made of timber to keep the cstte out
Aud then with patient waiting the Spring and Summer rains
Came oft upon your labor rewardng all your pains;
And when the crop rpened and gathered in the fall
Of all the crops you raised you prred that of
I've seen these sturdy sxmen with we'll directed blow
Attack the mighty forest and lay the monarchs low.
I've seen the hungry FIRE consume your heaps of logs
And seon the ditchers spade the marshy bogs
And here upon the opening no timber in the way,
Have seen the patient on from day to day;
The sod was quite unycldng the tough and long
To draw the heavy breaker" the team it must be strong
Sometimes eight yoke of tethercd in row;
Their march the breaking powerful but slow.
The steady watchful driver made each perform his toll
The father held tue breaker that turned the virgin SOIL
For he had early learned that by the pow, to thrive
Himself must either hold take the whip and drive.
Thus by your patient labor, and we'll directed skill
You have subdued tho County and conquered it will


Have swept away the forests removed the sumps and stones
Torn down your humble cabins and built you stately homes
Have planted fruitful orchards whose tops kiss the


breeze;


Have made pleasant highwaysand lined them well with


trees


Have drained the stsgnan marshes aud brdged the brooks


and ris


Thrown dams across our rivera and bu thereon ls