Classic Poem

A new star rose in Freedom's sky
A hundred years ago;
It gleamed in Labor's wistful eye
With bright magnetic glow;
Hope and Courage whispered, Lo,
Ye who toil and ye who wait,
Open swings the People's gate!
Beyond the mountains and under the skies
Of a new domain your future lies:
On the banks of the Beautiful River,
By the shores of the Lakes of the North,
There Fortune to each shall deliver
Due yield of the teeming earth.

Jocund voices call from the dark
Hesperian solitude, saying, Hark!
Harken, ye people! come from the East,
Come from the marge of the ocean, come!
Here in the wilderness spread a feast;
This is the poor man's welcome home.
Hither with ax and plow;
(Carry the stripes and stars!)
Come with the faith and the vow
Of citizens wearing your scars
Like trophies upon the victorious breast;
Noblemen, wend to the West!

Load your rude wagon with your scanty goods
And drive to the plentiful woods;
Your wheels as they rumble shall scare
The fleet-footed deer from the road,
And waken the sulky brown bear
In his long unmolested abode;
The Redman shall gaze in dumb fear
At the wain of the strange pioneer,
His barbarous eyes vainly spell
The capital letters which tell
That the White-foot is bound
For the good hunting-ground
Where the buffaloes dwell.

To the Ohio Country, move on!
Bring your brains and your brawn,
(Some books of the best
Pack into the chest!)
Bring your wives and your sons,
Your maidens and lisping ones;
Your trust in God bring;
Choose a spot by a spring,
And build you a castle—a throne,
A palace of logs—but your own!

Happy the new-born child
Nursed in the greenwood wild;
Though his cradle be only a trough.
Account him well off;
For born to the purple is he,
The proud royal robe of the Free!
For the latest time is the best,
And the happiest place is the West,
Where man shall establish anew
Things excellent, beautiful, true!