No crown that line of hundred kings have worn,
Could add one honor to the peerless Washington.
That ancient State had still another son,

Whose patriotic task so well, so grandly done,
Thrills every heart with each familiar word:
His "pen" was truly "mightier than the sword.”
Virginia, Massachusetts, sister States! Alike
In glorious deeds, alike in gallant men!
One had for freedom the first blow to strike ;
The other had the last, and then,

From northern to far southern shore,
The reign of tyranny was o'er.

May each succeeding fourth day of July
Bring greater blessings as the years go by!
May this, and every land beneath the sun,
Rejoice in victories peace has won !

And when another century shall have gone,

And others, where we stand, look back upon

The incidents of every fleeting year,

What thoughts shall rise, what visions shall appear?

Ah! none can tell

Save Him "who ruleth all things well."
But this we know, of this we may be sure,

That truth and justice ever will endure ;
That principles immortal and sublime
Are bounded not by space nor time.
These through all changes shall survive,
Though men shall cease to live.

In this utilitarian age,

In these progressive days so fast,

Present and future all our thoughts engage.

We oft forget our obligations to the past.

We cannot hold too tenderly

The memories of those devoted men,
Who by strong arm, or word, or pen,
Brought us in safety through the sea
Of danger and perplexity.

Nor can we greet too gladly the return

Of any day on which great deeds were done,

But let our hearts within us burn,

And eyes with grateful tears o'errun.

We cannot gaze too reverently

On every spot and every landmark where
Brave men have fallen in the cause of liberty,
And where bold words have thrilled the air.

Save us, O Liberty! save us, departed shades
Of men whose eloquence has rung

Through consecrated rafters o'er our heads,

Who Freedom's banner to the free winds flung,

Save us from desecrating hand

That would destroy these sacred places of the land!

Let them forever stand.

And people of another age,

Hither from every clime shall come,

To make a reverent pilgrimage

To Freedom's chosen home.

Then shall each heart be thrilled and fired

With lofty aims and purpose high,

Ready with noblest zeal inspired,

To act, to suffer, or to die.

And now, while every eye with joy is beaming
In every hamlet of the country wide,
Above, o'er all, the glorious flag is streaming,
The treasured emblem of our hope and pride.

How has it floated through the battle smoke,

And brightly gleamed before the watchful sight,
And like a living presence spoke

To guide, to lead the uncertain fight!

Though riddled, torn by shot and shell,

Still through the storm has swept that standard proud,

Hope of the living, and for those who fell

A soldier's shroud.

O flag of freedom! may thy stars shine on,
Each by itself, and all as one,

With neither spot nor stain to mar

The blended glory beaming from afar ;

No star to wander from that union bright;

No dark eclipse.to dim the light.

Still may thy red be like the sunlight glow,

To kindle warmth in coldest breast;

Thy white be pure as winter's snow,

And as the fleecy clouds that come and go,

Like messengers of peace and rest,
From unknown regions of the blest;

Thine azure be like that cerulean hue

Which marks the deep profound of yonder skies,
Suggesting, that, beyond those depths of blue,
Some higher good, some greater blessing, lies.
Thine be it evermore to wave

Where none can call another "slave,"

And all the joyous air and tender sky

Are fragrant with the breath of liberty.

But hark! now from afar

Come faintly quivering through the startled air
Tones of a solitary bell;

And with each trembling swell

This is the story it doth tell :

With no uncertain tongue,

But loud and clear,

That all, both far and near,

The thrilling words might hear:

'I liberty proclaim throughout the land,'

And now in my old age again I stand
With weak and faltering voice to speak,

And the long silence break,

'Once more, throughout the land I liberty proclaim,'

To all, of every color, race, and name.

From east to west, from south to north.
Let the glad sound go forth,

Till all the world shall be

In peace, united, free."

THE SECOND PART

Of the programme was the representation of historical scenes and characters by school-children and others, under the direction of Mr. GEORGE S. TROWBRIDGE, assisted by Miss MATTIE C. Howe, with Mr WILLIAM S. SARGENT as pianist. This was one of the most pleasing features of the occasion to the young people present. For the beauty and effect of the scenes, and the admirable manner in which each character was presented, Mr. Trowbridge and Miss Howe received great praise, as well as for the genius displayed in getting up the drama. The plot was as follows:

1776.

[Enter KING GEORGE THE THIRD and COURTiers.

The KING is

conducted to his throne. Address of the KING.]

My lords and gentlemen, a most daring spirit of resistance and disobedience of the law still prevails in the Massachusetts provinces; an