| Show DAY how the heart of an american boy leaps with joychen joy when he sees the starry flag to the breezes amid the booming of cannon and the stirring strains or music on a bright morning of independence day it is an object lesson which sinks deeper in his heart than all stories or glowing pic anres regarding those who freed our country it appeals to the understanding and he realizes is a land of free men fathers may have passed the days when the fourth of july formalities cease to bo a pleasure but they should still regard it as a duly to properly celebrate this groat national holiday it is a duty in a double sense first as american citizens citi we should hallow the day on which our forefathers made so bold a strike for liberty secondly we should seek on J such an occasion to imbue the souls of our children with that love of country that will tend to make them true and loyal citizens when they grow to years of maturity independence day honored as the occasion demands becomes the one event of the year pleasing to all true citizens of our great Ila public under the folds of the stars and stripes on that day what pleasing memories come and go in fancy we see our forefathers rich in feelings of gallantry but poorly prepared to carry on a bloody war for freedom sign the immortal document the declaration cl of independence in foncy we see the privations they parsed through in founding the government under which we erand in ones breast come feelings that he would gladly have aided them in their patriotic struggles we do not often stop to think how dearly we love our country and its free institutions aud how su is our lot to the rest of humanity but when occasion brings up such thoughts how pleasant they are to all american citizens ours is yet the land of the free and the home of the brave we are free to act as our better feelings die tate and all are brave enough to stand by our country in times of peril though in politics we may differ and sectional in teresta in many cases make us selfish still should a foreign hand seek to destroy our free institutions how quickly would not all differences feren ces be forgotten america would then find ag many loyal defenders as when our fore fathers sprang to arms to establish liberty in this rich land of ours |
