Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

REPORTS OF PIONEER HISTORICAL MEETINGS

85

Make it a song of labor,
Make it a hymn of praise,And through it must run the story
Of the early frontier days.
"Gladly would I for the old folks
Fashion a stirring strain
That should sound a resurrection
To their precious past again.
But can I write for the old folks,
I, who still am young,
Whose rhyme of life runs smoothly
As dropped from a poet's tongue?
I know not the strength of effort,
The struggle of hopes and fears
That brought but a scanty harvest
To the early pioneers.
"What do I know of trial,
Since those we greet today
Hewed paths for this generation
And rolled the stones from the way?
They builded my happy hearth-fire,
With plenty hedged it about,
And I hold as my rightful dower
IWhat they bravely did without.
On a broad and firm foundation
The common wealth they laid;
Our stately domes of freedom
Are their memorials made.
"So I cannot sing for the old folks
Toil-song nor hymn of praise,
For my ear knows not the music
Of the anthems of yesterdays;
But I bring you the grateful homage
Due to the kings of toil
Whose axes created our peerage
And made us lords of the soil.