BY GEORGE B. WALLIS .

As stars before the morning's light
With the thin azure seem to mix;
Thus ye are fading from our sight,
Spirits of Seventy-Six.

And, veterans of that stormy strife,
A health to you: " A nation's praise
Gladden the winter of your life,
The evening of your days. "

Fathers of Freedom! ye have built
A temple worthy of your stock;
Cemented by the blood ye spilt
Into a solid rock.

And may it stand till time shall cease,
The idol of our country's youth;
As firm as Justice — fair as Peace;
As beautiful as Truth.

Old soldiers! you may boast to be
Some of the hope forlorn that hurl'd
The haughty tyrant of the sea
Off from the western world.

And he is now supremely blest,
Who on the field of battle still
Can show its scars upon his breast,
Or tell of Bunker's Hill.

Or of that dark and wintry night,
When Providence was pleased to bear
The army safely in its flight
Across the Delaware.

Beneath the flag of stripes and stars,
What deeds of valor have been done!
Among the free-born sons of Mars,
It stood by Washington;

" A pillar of a cloud by day,
A pillar of fire throughout the night; "
The solace of the weary way,
The spirit of the fight.

Our tree was planted by the sword,
'T is nurtured by the plough and spade;
And nations now, of one accord,
Rejoice beneath its shade.

And hoary warriors, while ye stay
Among us, it shall be our aim
To manifest a will to pay
The debt ye well may claim.

And to the graves of Freedom's band
The striplings of our sons shall bring
The future daughters of the land,
To strew the flowers of Spring.