Classic Poem

BY GEORGE D. PRENTICE .

Why swell a million hearts as one
With memories of the past?
Why rings out yon deep thunder gun
Upon the rushing blast?
Why hold the beautiful and brave
The jubilee of earth?
It is, it is the day that gave
Our patriot hero birth.

We offer here a sacrifice
Of hearts to him who came
To guard young Freedom's paradise
With sword of living flame!
To him who in War's whirlwind loud
Rode like an angel form,
And set his glory on the cloud,
A halo of the storm.

A hundred years, with all their trains
Of shadow, have gone by,
And yet his glorious name remains
A sound that cannot die!
'T is graven on the hill, the vale,
And on the mountain tall,
And speaks in every sounding gale
And roaring water-fall!

No marble on his resting spot
Its sculptured column rears,
But his is still a nobler lot —
A grateful nation's tears.
Old Time, that bids the marble bow,
Makes green each laurel leaf
That blooms upon the sainted brow
Of our immortal chief!

His deeds were ours — but through the world
That mighty name will be,
Where glory's banner is unfurl'd,
The watchword of the Free;
And as they bend their eagle eyes
On Victory's burning sun,
Their shouts will echo to the skies,
" Our God and Washington! "