The Birthday of The Nation

The Birthday of The Nation

by Daniel Webster

(From address delivered July 4, 1851, at laying 

the cornerstone of the new wing of the Capitol.)

       This is that day of the year which announced to mankind the great fact of American Independence! This fresh and brilliant morning blesses our vision with another beholding of the birthday of our Nation; and we see that Nation, of recent origin, now among the most considerable and powerful, and spreading from sea to sea over the continent.

       On the fourth day of July, 1776, the representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, declared that these Colonies are, and ought to be, free and independent States. This declaration, made by most patriotic and resolute men, trusting in the justice of their cause and the protection of Heaven, -- and yet not without deep solicitude and anxiety -- has now stood for seventy-five years. It was sealed in blood. It has met dangers and overcome them. It has had detractors, and abashed them all. It has had enemies, and conquered them. It has had doubting friends, but it has cleared all doubts away; and now, to-day, raising its august form higher than the clouds, twenty millions of people contemplate it with hallowed love, and the world beholds it, and the consequences that have followed from it, with profound admiration.

       This anniversary animates and gladdens all American hearts. On other days of the year we may be party men, indulging in controversies more or less important to the public good. We may have likes and dislikes, and we may maintain our political differences, often with warm, and sometimes with angry feelings. But to-day we are Americans all ; nothing but Americans.

       As the great luminary over our heads, dissipating fogs and mist, now cheers the whole atmosphere, so do the associations connected with this day disperse all sullen and cloudy weather in the minds and feelings of true Americans. Every man's heart swells within him. Every man's port and bearing becomes somewhat more proud and lofty as he remembers that seventy-five years have rolled away, and that the great inheritance of Liberty is still his, -- his, undiminished and unimpaired; his, in all its original glory; his to enjoy; his to protect; his to transmit to future generations.

• Who Was Daniel Webster?
• A Featured Biography
• Daniel Webster Memorial

England and America

England and America

by James Bryce

       This is a memorable day to Englishmen as well as to Americans. It is to us a day both of regret and of rejoicing: of regret at the severance of the political connection which bound the two branches of our race together, and of regret even more for the unhappy errors which brought that severance about, and the unhappy strife by which the memory of it was embittered. But it is also a day of rejoicing, for it is the birthday of the eldest daughter of England -- the day when a new nation, sprung from our own, first took its independent place in the world. And now with the progress of time, rejoicing has prevailed over regret, and we in England can at length join heartily with you in celebrating the beginning of your national life. All sense of bitterness has passed away, and been replaced by sympathy with all which this anniversary means to an American heart.

       England and America now understand one another far better than they ever did before. In 1776 there was on one side a monarch and a small ruling caste, on the other side a people. Now our government can no longer misrepresent the nation, and across the ocean a people speaks to a people. We have both come, and that most notably within recent months, to perceive that all over the world the interests of America and of England are substantially the same.

        The sense of our underlying unity over against the other races and forms of civilization has been a potent force in drawing us together. It is said that the Fourth of July is a day of happy augury for mankind. This is true because on that day America entered on a course and proclaimed principles of government which have been of profound significance for mankind. Many nations have had a career of conquest and of civilizing dominion: but to make an immense people prosperous, happy, and free is a nobler and grander achievement than the most brilliant conquests and the widest dominion.

• Who Was James Bryce, Viscount Bryce?
• More About Viscount James Bryce

The Stone of The Sepulcher

The Stone of The Sepulcher

by Susan Coolidge

"How shall the stone be rolled away?"

Thus questioned they, the women three,

Who at dim dawn went forth to see

The sealed and closely guarded cell

Where slept the Lord they loved so well.

First of all Easter sacrifice,

The linen and the burial spice,

They carried, as with anxious speech

They sadly questioned, each to each:

Still, as they near and nearer drew

The puzzle and the terror grew,

And none had word of cheer to say 

But lo, the stone was rolled away!

" How shall the stone be rolled away?"

So, like the Marys, question we.

As looking on we dimly see

Some mighty barrier raise its head

To bar the path we needs must tread.

Our little strength seems weakness made,

Our hearts are faint and sore afraid;

Drooping we journey on alone. 

We only mark the heavy stone,
We do not see the helping Love
Which moves before us as we move,
Which chides our faithless, vain dismay,
And rolls for us the stone away.

"How shall the stone be rolled away?"

Ah, many a heart, with terrors pent.

Has breathed the question as it went,

With faltering feet and failing breath.

In the chill company of death,

Adown the narrow path and straight,

Which all must traverse soon or late.

And nearing thus the dreaded tomb.

Just in the thickest, deepest gloom,

Has heard the stir of angel wings,

Dear voices, sweetest welcomings,

And, as on that first Easter day,

Has found the dread stone rolled away! 

 

 

Below is a vase of lovely Easter jonquils for you to color.

Easter Index/ Previous Page / Next Page

Easter Dawn

Easter Dawn

by Frances Ridley Havergal

It is too calm to be a dream.

Too gravely sweet, too full of power.

Prayer changed to praise this very hour.

Yes, heard and answered ! though it seem

Beyond the hope of yesterday,

Beyond the faith that dared to pray.

Yet not beyond the love that heard,

And not beyond the faithful word

On which each trembling prayer may rest

And win the answer truly best. 

Yes, heard and answered ! sought and found !

I breathe a golden atmosphere

Of solemn joy, and seem to hear

Within, above, and all around,

The chime of deep cathedral bells,

An early herald peal that tells

A glorious Easter tide begun;

While yet are sparkling in the sun

Large raindrops of the night storm passed.

And days of Lent are gone at last.

Easter Index/ Previous Page / Next Page

At Easter Time

At Easter Time

by Laura E. Richards

The little flowers came through the ground,

At Easter time, at Easter time :

They raised their heads and looked around.

At happy Easter time.

And every pretty bud did say,

"Good people, bless this holy day,

For Christ is risen, the angels say

At happy Easter time!"

The pure white lily raised its cup

At Easter time, at Easter time.

The crocus to the sky looked up

At happy Easter time.

"We'll hear the song of Heaven ! " they say,

"It's glory shines on us to-day.

Oh ! may it shine on us alway

At holy Easter time!"

'Twas long and long and long ago,

That Easter time, that Easter time;

But still the pure white lilies blow

At happy Easter time.

And still each little flower doth say,

"Good Christians, bless this holy day,

For Christ is risen, the angels say

At blessed Easter time!" 

 

 

To color Easter eggs for you,
The bunnies work the whole day through.
 

Color this vintage Easter bunny egg dye from the 1950s.

Easter Index/ Previous Page / Next Page

The Day of Victory

lily-of-the-valley and "Peaceful Easter Greetings"

The Day of Victory

by Rachel Capen Schauffler

Rise my soul and break your prison;

For the Christ, your Lord, is risen!

While His victories avail you.

Death nor terror can assail you;

Rise with Him and, with Him, risen,

Run to visit souls in prison;

Show them how your bonds were broken,

Lend them all your keys in token

That you fought your ways from prison

By the help of Jesus Risen.

Easter Index/ Previous Page / Next Page

Mary by Sangster and a Primrose paper cut...

Mary 

by Margaret E. Sangster

She walked among the lilies

Upstanding straight and tall,

Their silver tapers bright against

The dusky wall;

Gray olives dropped upon her

Their crystal globes of dew.

The while the doors of heaven grew wide

To let the Easter through.

All heaven was rose and golden.

The clouds were reft apart,

Earth's holiest dawn in dazzling white

Came forth from heaven's own heart;

And never, since on Eden

Creation's glory lay,

Had ever garden of the Lord

Beheld so fair a day.

Her eyes were blurred with weeping.

Her trailing steps were slow;

The cross she bore within her

Transfixed her soul with woe.

One only goal before her

Loomed through her spirit's gloom,

As in the early morning

She sought the guarded tomb.

But down the lilied pathway

A kingly presence came,

A seamless garment clothed Him,

His face was clear as flame,

And in His hands were nailprints,

And on His brow were scars.

But in His eyes a light of love

Beyond the light of stars.

For tears she could not see Him,

As o'er the path He came.

Till, like remembered music.

He called her by her name ;

Then swift her soul to answer,

The Lord of life she knew,

Her breast unbarred its prison gates

To let the Easter through.

Such light of revelation

As bathed her being then,

It comes anew wherever Christ

Is known indeed of men;

Such glory on the pathway,

It falls again on all

Who hear the King in blessing,

And hasten at His call.

Rise, King of grace and glory.

This hallowed Easter-tide,

Nor from Thy ransomed people

Let even death divide;

For yet again doth heaven

Throw all its gates apart.

And send the sacred Easter

Straight from its glowing heart.

 

A Primrose Paper Border.

 

       Download and print out the pattern below. The dotted lines indicate where the image will be folded to continue the primrose silhouette seamlessly after it is unfolded. The number of images "linked" together in one continuous chain is determined by the length of the paper being cut. Use a very thin paper to make your cutting easier. Cut away the areas indicated by the design. (see image above and read text on the pattern below. This paper-cut may be used as a border around an Easter bulletin board in a classroom or as a paper chain for a shelf if you like.

Primrose paper cut pattern.

Easter Index/ Previous Page / Next Page