  OUR BIRTHRIGHTGod of the Nations! Thou whose might Hath led us from the dark to light, Since first a puny people we Sought and obtained our Liberty! Grant, we beseech Thee, for the Earth A Peace that shall have noble birth! A Peace that shall beneath its wings Enfold the brightest, best of things! Keep Thou the people of that land, Who for their homes and firesides stand; Teach Thou another land to rest Her arms, and bend her haughty crest! Bring Thou within the fold of right All who are plagued with war and blight! And bring, O God, in this New Year, A reign of Love and not of Fear! So shall we keep Thy word divine; So shall the land no more repine; And this wide world, oppressed with fear, Look onward to a brighter year. God of the Nations! Thou whose might Hath led us from the dark to light, Grant us to live that we may be Worthy our birthright—Liberty! LEXINGTON(April 19, 1775.) We name our heroes in the hush That follows battle's awful roar, And count the cost of that great rush To victory! They deemed no more Than just the simple right to shed Their blood in such a holy cause. Where the unconquered died or bled We turn, from our safe ground, and pause To wonder how, in days long gone, Such power was given to right the wrong! We deem them worthy of all praise, The heroes of that battlefield; And looking backward to those days, That meed of praise most gladly yield. Were they more true to dictates bold Of honor in that olden time? Or, when the weight of proof is told, Rang out the truth in purer chime? Gave they more freely of life's stream Than we would do? than we dare dream? They did not flinch when in the wage Of war stern duty's standard waved, But heart and hand did both engage, And on each soul was deep engraved "Country and Home;" fit words to urge To action more heroic still, As o'er that mighty ocean's surge Rang out the watchward of their will! As onward pressed to liberty The men through whom we now are free! In conflict rang their cry of might, "Ours is the cause that must be won; God is the helper of the right!" So sped the word at Lexington, While hurrying from peaceful plow To war's red-stainÉd field they came. Not theirs 'neath tyranny to bow; Not theirs a country's death and shame; But to go on to greater height With wings outspread for purer flight. Hail heroes in our country's need! We bring ye wreathes of laurel leaves; We gather of the scattered seed In full and ripened harvest sheaves. Yours be it e'er to lift our minds To realms of higher deed and thought; Be ours to loose what here but binds And holds us from the object sought. Then may we hope, in time, to stand As staunch and true as that brave band. To-day, as meet, we hold this page Of History before the world; While overhead, undimmed by age Our country's flag is all unfurled! O emblem of sweet Freedom's gift, Not vainly are thy stars displayed! To thee our eyes with pride we lift; Thy Stars and Stripes our strength have made. Hail! heroes of brave deeds well done; Hail! day that gave us Lexington! O LAND OF OUR BIRTHO Land of our Birth! whose bright colors are waving From mountain and valley; o'er sea and o'er land; A pathway of light, Lo! its glory is paving, To wane not, nor darken, at despot's command! We stand 'neath the Flag that embodies the union, While History passes in stirring review; Our hearts, in remembrance, now hold proud communion With the record of deeds both gallant and true! O Land of our Birth! 'tis a glory undying That sheds its soft light over each scene outspread; And Tyranny's hand, all in vain, is defying The Heaven-born Peace that to Freedom is wed! We feel the glad throb of the patriot's devotion, That e'er to the Stars and the Stripes must be due, All else is engulfed in o'erwhelming emotion That finds its fulfillment the Red, White and Blue! OUR FLAG(Dedicated to the Children of America) Fling to the breeze our noble Flag, And let it ride the gale! In time of War 'twill never lag; Its stars and stripes ne'er pale! Give it to Heaven's breeze, once more, And let it proudly float! The emblem bear from shore to shore, To herald Freedom's note! Look to it, Children! 'Tis a gift Most precious in its worth; No slave his streaming eyes need lift To curse his wretched birth! No deed to bring the blush of shame Should flaunt beneath its folds; But ever brighter grow the fame Of work its plan unfolds. Look to it, Children! Let it be As fair, to-day, as when The founders of our liberty Stood forth, God's noblemen! When by the price of blood and tears They sealed that sacred deed, And cast aside all doubts and fears, To meet a Country's need. Then let it float to Heaven's breeze, Beneath the sapphire dome; Far o'er the tops of waving trees; "For Country and for Home!" Fling to the breeze our noble Flag, And let it ride the gale! In time of War 'twill never lag; Its stars and stripes ne'er pale! In time of Peace how fair to see— Sent forth by patriot hand— This symbol of sweet Liberty Throughout our native land! THE NATIONAL FLOWER(The Golden Rod) It grows 'mid tangled underwood, All brilliant in the fields, And o'er our hearts a subtile spell Its golden beauty wields. Perchance some exile's foot hath pressed The road with weary tread, When lo! from out the wayside growth It rears its bonny head. Not with the first faint tints of Spring Are its bright blossoms seen; But, radiant in its garb, and decked With Autumn's fruitful sheen. Then hail! bright floweret of our choice— With multiform design; Though many in thy blossom's wealth, Still one on parent vine! |
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