35 



to partake of an excellent dinner, provided by Jonas Pierce, of 

 Roxbuiy ; at the close of which, the orator of the occasion, Hon. 

 George S. Boutwell, was introduced to the audience and delivered 

 the practical address which will be found in full in the opening 

 pages of this volume. Owing to the lateness of the hour no 

 speeches were made, and the singing of the following hymn, writ- 

 ten for the occasion, was omitted, the company adjourning to the 

 home track. 



ORIGINAL HYMN. 



O'er waving fields of ripened grain 



The autumn sun looks kindly down ; 

 And resting mid its wealth of leaves, 



The grape-vine wears its purple crown. 



Again, as in the years gone by, 



The sound of reaper and of flail 

 Tells of the promise still fulfilled ; 



" Seed-time and harvest shall not fail." 



Their country saved through blood and strife, 



With trusting heart and grateful vow 

 For mercies past and hopes to come, 



Our fathers sang " God speed the Plough." • 



They little thought the offered prayer 

 Beyond their dreams should answered be, 



Until the wilderness should bloom 

 From eastern shore to western sea. 



And that the land so dearly loved 



Should stand to-day in fame and power, 

 In strength matured, and glory, like 



The century-blooming aloe-flower. 



O may their children, looking back 



On earnest life and noble deed, 

 True sources of their country's weal, 



Unto the lesson take good heed : 



That nation surely shall be blest, 



Whose people, honest, brave, and free, 

 With trust in God, good faith toward men, 



Fulfil the law of liberty. 



