Song to Old Union

Ode to Old Union

(AIR -- "Sparkling and Bright.")

Let the Grecian dream of his sacred stream,
And sing of the brave adorning,
That Phoebus weaves from his laurel leaves
At the golden gates of Morning;
But the brook that bounds through Union's grounds
Gleams bright as the Delphic water,
And a prize as fair as a god may wear,
Is a dip from our Alma Mater!

CHORUS:
Then here's to thee, the brave and free,
Old Union smiling o'er us;
And for many a day, as thy walls grow gray,
May they ring with thy children's chorus.

Could our praises throng on the waves of song,
Like an Orient fleet gem-bringing,
We would bear to thee the argosy,
And crown thee with pearls of singing;
But thy smile beams down beneath a crown
Whose glory asks no other;
We gather it not from the green sea-grot --
'Tis the love we bear our mother!

CHORUS

Let the joy that falls from thy dear old walls,
Unchanged, brave Time's on-darting,
And our only tear falls once a year
On hands that clasp ere parting;
And when other throngs shall sing thy songs,
And their spell once hath bound us,
Our faded hours shall revive their flowers,
And the Past shall live around us.