Father! We, whose ears have tingled OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. THE NAME OF WASHINGTON* [Read before the Sons of the Revolution, New York, February 22, 1887.] Sons of the youth and the truth of a nation, A name to live and die for The name of Washington. Calmly his face shall look down through the ages- Charged with the wisdom of saints and of sages; Quick with the light of a life-giving morning. A majesty to try for, A name to live and die for The name of Washington! *From "Dreams and Days." Copyright, 1892, by Charles Scribner's Sons. ་ Though faction may rack us, or party divide us, Live and forgive! But forget not the glory A name to live and die for The name of Washington! Still in his eyes shall be mirrored our fleeting His name we'll live and die for— GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP. WASHINGTON Great were the hearts and strong the minds And deep the gladness of the hour When, as the auspicious task was done, That noble race is gone; the suns Of fifty years have risen and set; But the bright links those chosen ones Wide-as our own free race increase- State after state, a mighty train. WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. A STAR IN THE WEST There's a star in the West that shall never go down Till the record of valor decay; We must worship its light, though it is not our own, Shall the name of a Washington ever be heard Is there one out of bondage that hails not the word "War! war to the knife! Be enthralled, or ye die!" Was the echo that woke in his land; But it was not his voice that prompted the cry, He struck with firm courage the blow of the brave, He indignantly trampled the yoke of the slave, Though he threw back the fetters and headed the strife, Yet he prayed for the moment when Freedom and Life Would no longer be pressed by the sword. Oh, his laurels were pure! and his patriot name And be seen in all annals, the foremost in fame, The truthful and honest, the wise and the good, ELIZA COOK. CROWN OUR WASHINGTON Arise-'Tis the day of our Washington's glory, Whose sword swept for freedom the fields of the sun! But with evergreens vernal, And the banners of stars that the continent span, Crown, crown we the chief of the heroes eternal, Who lifted his sword for the birthright of man! He gave us a nation: to make it immortal He laid down for freedom the sword that he drew, And his faith leads us on through the uplifting portal Of the glories of peace and our destinies new Not with gold, nor with gems, But with evergreens vernal, And the flags that the nations of liberty span, Crown, crown him the chief of the heroes eternal, Who laid down his sword for the birthright of man! Lead, Face of the Future, serene in thy beauty, Till o'er the dead heroes the peace star shall gleam, Till Right shall be Might in the counsels of duty, And the service of man be life's glory supreme. Not with gold, nor with gems, But with evergreens vernal, And the flags that the nations in brotherhood span, Crown, crown we the chief of the heroes eternal, Whose honor was gained by his service to man! HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH. WASHINGTON* Simple and brave, his faith awoke ROBERT BRIDGES. *Copyright, 1903, by Harper & Brothers. |