Fourth Of July Poem

We ]Hib"ish the following poem by rcqucst. It VU written by Jerry Spaulding, :t farmer of lorna, md rcad at the fourth of july celcbralion at I.yons.) Our nation's God I bcneath the shade Whicii Thy providlng hand bath made, We nu .t to ijlvc our praise to Thee In happy songs of liberty. To fee! Thy blcssing anti rcjoice With deepênlng thought and swelling voicc; While willi the chorus full and long We praise Thee with our simple song. And whüe we give our thanks to Thee Kor Freedoin'a second century e humhly pniv tliat not in vain Racfc e;ir wc come to Thee agmis, W uk for Thy protecting arm To shield us l'roin a nation's harin ; I-et n o disloyal mind' device Uctray hei trust to sucrifice. And relying on Thy shield, Let every battle scar bc bealed 1-ct eveqt grave whoae mouklering tiend For lus convictions bravely blel, Each year be made a tlower bed. Then Iet us fcel this, Thy behest. No north, no south, no east, no west; Krom strand to strand, or tea to sea, Let every man our brother bc. Long may the sword rest in its sheath, Whiïe pt-ace shll wave her laurel wreath ; And may the gJittering light of fame Break iorth f rom lovers undying llame, And gleam o'er every loy.tl name. And while wc praise the patriot dead, Tii truth and justice be it saidj Thut no disloyal name shail hnd A place withín our nation's bhrine. ilail I Peaceand Freedom, twins ot Hcaven; Most perfect gifts tu nation's gtven ; Ilail I every son and every sire Who bravely met tlie battle tire. All hai! ! to tliose who side by side, Went down in the warm ertmson lidej And pivo up life Üiat we might be Tht Irccst of all ptople free. Hall ! to the mothcr who yet weeps O'er ashes where her darling slceps ; The widowed heart that sorrows yct Kor him she never can forget. TJiose tresses, now so Itnged with gray, Were raven-hued upon tlie day, When in her scaldlng ars the prestfjd Them lbndJy to his heaving breast. Ba Thou, Oh, God I their guide and shiclcl, Till every wounded heart is hcaled; While we, with gratuful hc;iits will hring, Kresh tribute to the sorrowing. While in our pride we gladly claim The i;lory of our country 's name ; Kor these our shores are ever tice - Thy children burn beyond the sea. WUh wekome hearts and beckonin hand We greet the soos of othcr lands; Wtmse children weary of the task 'J hat kingdoms claim and empires ask. let thcir thousands come in scores To tind Üicir weleome at our shores; While lrom tlic granitc liilts of Mainc To Sacrainentos fertile plain We share with them our vast dotuain. Thrice girdled with the iron band, Her hfe-blood flows froin strand lo strand, Through every soil and every clime, Through ceaseless frost and suinmer time. Come, every honcst cliild of toil Whose hands shaiThelp to till our soil. And build your homes in freedom's shatles Where no despotic hand invades. Come, where f rom every walk of lile, Each man is equal in the strife To climb the scalc of wealth or famc, And on the summit writc his name. A pain, our God, most gratefully, Kor this, Thy gilt, we turn to Thee; And may the pride which now we feel, No humble thought or word conccul. Thouph while we would with fellinL blow Strike down thejast disloyaly foo; Let every lieart in all our l.in'd lnvoke protection at Thy hand.