22. MY FATHERLAND. FAITHFUL love till death enduring, Not in words and ditties only, Would my heart my thanks outpour, For with deeds I fain would prove it, In the dark, fierce strife of war. So in joy and so in sorrow, Friend and foe, I'll tell it now, Faithful love till death enduring, HOFFMANN VON FALLERSLEBEN 23. HOME. WHERE burns the loved hearth brightest, Cheering the social breast? Where beats the fond heart lightest, Its humblest hopes possessed? Where is the smile of sadness, Of meek-eyed patience born, Worth more than those of gladness, Which mirth's bright cheeks adorn? Pleasure is marked by fleetness To those who ever roam; While grief itself has sweetness At Home, dear Home! There blend the ties that strengthen Our hearts in hours of grief, Does pure religion charm thee Far more than aught below? In temples built for prayer; For home itself is lonely Unless her smiles be there. The devotee may falter, At Home, dear Home! Love over it presideth With meek and watchful awe; Its daily service guideth, And shows its perfect law. If there thy faith shall fail thee, At Home, dear Home ! BERNARD BARTON 24. HOME! HOME! SWEET HOME! 'MID pleasures and palaces though we may roam, There's no place like home! An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain. There's no place like home! JOHN HOWARD PAYNE. 25. LOVE OF COUNTRY. BREATHES there the man, with soul so dead, "This is my own, my native land!" From wandering on a foreign strand? SIR WALTER SCOTT. PART IV. AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. 1. SEVENTY-SIX. WHAT heroes from the woodland sprung, The thrilling cry of Freedom rung, Hills flung the cry to hills around, And streams, whose springs were yet unfound, Into the forest's heart. Then marched the brave from rocky steep, From mountain river swift and cold; The borders of the stormy deep, The vales where gathered waters sleep, As if the very earth again Grew quick with God's creating breath, To battle to the death. Already had the strife begun : Already blood on Concord's plain That death-stain on the vernal sward Profaned the soil no more. WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT. 2. INDEPENDENCE DAY. THE United States is the only country with a known. birthday. All the rest begun, they know not when, and grew into power, they know not how. If there had been no Independence Day, England and America combined would not be so great as each actually is. There is no "Republican," no "Democrat," on the Fourth of July, all are Americans. All feel that their country is greater than party. JAMES GILLESPIE BLAINE. AMERICA AN AGGREGATE OF NATIONS. GIANT aggregate of nations, glorious whole, of glorious parts, MARTIN FARquhar TuppeR. |