CHAPTER XLI.

INDEPENDENCE DAY.

HE Charles City Intelligencer of July 8th,

1880, in giving a report of the proceedings at the celebration of American Independence in Charles City, that year, has the following:

Hon. A. B. F. Hildreth, the toast-master, did not follow the usual course; but, in preparing his toasts and sentiments, he gave us something unique and instructive. The responses were able, prompt and well delivered. Instead of tiring the audience, the listeners seemed eager to catch and swallow every word. We should be glad to publish all these pithy, patriotic speeches, and regret that time and space prevent. The regular toasts were as follows:

The Day We Celebrate: On the 4th of July. 104 years ago, in Philadelphia, when the Declaration of American Independence was read to the assembled multitude, the bell of Independence Hall, in merry peals, gave utterance to the prophetic words engraved upon its surface: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants, thereof."

Response by A. M. Harrison, Esq.

Our Agricultural Interests: The prosperity of a country depends upon the intelligent cultivation of the soil. Agriculture is the soul of commerce and the true foundation of a nation's greatness.

"He that by the plow would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive."

Response by Addis Schermerhorn, of Cedar township.

Our Citizen Soldiers: The obligations of the Republic to the men who preserved its integrity in the day of battle are undiminished by the lapse of fifteen years since their final victory. To do them honor is and forever shall be the grateful privilege, and sacred duty, of the American people.

Response by Capt. Geo. H. Nichols, of Marble. Rock.

Our Musical Amateurs:

"The man that hath not music in himself,

Nor is not moved by concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils;

Let no such man be trusted."

"If music be the food of love, play on."

Song by Will S. Harwood, entitled "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"-and chorus by the audiBeautifully rendered.

ence.

The Law: All beings have their laws. Deity has His laws; the material world has its laws; the beasts have their laws; man has his laws; and Charles City has both laws and lawyers. Response by J. S. Root, Esq.

Our Free Public Schools: They are the palladium of our country's liberty.

"Delightful task to rear the tender mind;

Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined."

Response by Prof. J. C. Yocum.

The Press: In the earlier days of the Puritans, when Salem in Massachusetts was expected to be the principal seaport of New England, instead of Boston, a newspaper was established there having for its motto:

"Here shall the press the people's rights maintain,
Unawed by influence-unbribed by gain-

Here patriot truth shall noble precepts draw,
Pledged to religion, liberty and law."

Response by E. B. Dyke.

The Clergy: Theirs is a sacred calling. Tis theirs to be watchful of the welfare of mankind on earth, and guide them to a more perfect bliss beyond the skies.

Response by Rev. C. T. Tucker.

CHAPTER XLII.

CEDAR VALLEY EDUCATIONAL UMION.

N the spring of 1884 an association was organized at Charles City under the name of "Cedar Valley Educational Union." and A. B. F. Hildreth was elected its President. The members of this Association were school teachers, school officers. and active friends of the cause of education. On a subsequent occasion Mr. Hildreth read a paper before the Association, copied below, entitled

VERMONT AND THE VERMONTERS.

The territory which is now included in the State of Vermont was an unbroken wilderness for a long time after the surrounding country was settled. Canada had been peopled, the Dutch, or Hollanders, had made a settlement at Aurania, now Albany, and then followed settlements in Eastern New England. But a considerable period elapsed before the mountainous region of Vermont was possessed by any but marauding bands of Indians.

As time progressed, settlers from Massachusetts and Connecticut gradually and constantly moved into the then "new State," as it was termed.

These pioneer settlers were of the Puritan stock, Englishmen or their descendants, with the exception of some Dutch people from the Hudson river who took possession of the southwestern portion. It may with truth be said that no ances

try in the world is so illustrous as the Puritan founders of New England. They were heroes as well as pilgrims.

The spirit of liberty dwells in all mountainous countries. In proof of this we may look to the Highlands of Scotland, to the

"Scots who have with Wallace bled,

Scots whom Bruce had often led."

Look to Switzerland, or to the Tyrolese.

"Where the song of freedom soundeth!"

To the Circassians upon the Caucasus, who ever contend for liberty, and defy the whole power of Russian despotism.

Vermont is often denominated the "Switzerland of America," and it is indeed 'true that the spirit of a William Tell filled the breasts of those hardy mountaineers, Seth Warner, Ethan Allen, and their compatriots, who boldly captured fortifications, as at Ticonderoga, in the name of the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress.

The strife which led to the erection of Vermont as an independent State reminds one of the monkey weighing the cheese. The territory was in a fair way to be eaten up or absorbed by New York and New Hampshire. when those hardy sons declared that they would not belong to either commonwealth, but would have, and did have, a State of their own. In this crisis it was necessary that they should have, as Mrs. Sigourney expresses it.

“A leader, when the blast of ruthless war swept by,

A teacher, when the storm was past, and guide to worlds on high."

And on the 4th of March, A. D. 1791, Vermont became an integral part of the new American Union. Owing to the green verdure on her hills and mountains. the name. Verd Mont or Vermont was appropriately given her.

The soil of the Green Mountain State was never polluted by the tread of a slave. How natural