An Ode / Read August 15, 1907, at the dedication of the monument erected at Gloucester, Massachusetts, in commemoration of the founding of the Massachusetts Bay colony in the year sixteen hundred and twenty-three

by Madison Julius Cawein

An Ode

READ AUGUST 15, 1907, AT THE DEDI-
CATION OF THE MONUMENT ERECTED
AT GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, IN
COMMEMORATION OF THE FOUNDING
OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY
IN THE YEAR SIXTEEN HUNDRED AND
TWENTY-THREE BY MADISON CAWEIN

JOHN P. MORTON & COMPANY, INCORPORATED.
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY MCMVIII

An Ode

In Commemoration of the Founding of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony in the Year 1623.

I.

They who maintained their rights,
Through storm and stress,
And walked in all the ways
That God made known,
Led by no wandering lights,
And by no guess,
Through dark and desolate days
Of trial and moan:
Here let their monument
Rise, like a word
In rock commemorative
Of our Land's youth;
Of ways the Puritan went,
With soul love-spurred
To suffer, die, and live
For faith and truth.
Here they the corner-stone
Of Freedom laid;
Here in their hearts' distress
They lit the lights
Of Liberty alone;
Here, with God's aid,
Conquered the wilderness,
Secured their rights.
Not men, but giants, they,
Who wrought with toil
And sweat of brawn and brain
Their freehold here;
Who, with their blood, each day
Hallowed the soil.
And left it without stain
And without fear.

II.