Read before the Lee County Institute, at Fort Madison, Iowa, December 27, 1873.

Sculptors of the finest marble,
Molders of our plastic youth,
Sowers of such seed as ripen
Into everlasting truth,
Shepherds with the noblest calling
To be found in Life's broad way,
Welcome ! and may Heaven pour blessings
On your sacred cause to-day.

Be not weary of well doing !
Help, encourage, guard, and—
wait;
For you hold in trust the future
Of our young and rising State.
Whether, 'mid her regal sisters,
She the queen or vassal be,
Ye must say, for ye are molding,
Through our youth, her destiny.

Like our broad, unbounded prairies
Be your efforts, large and free;
Like our noble, chainless river,
As it courses to the sea,
Be your words to thrill their spirits,-
Words that rouse the daring soul;
Words that wake to life and action
Giant thoughts that spurn control.

Ask ye not a higher calling
Than the work ye dare to do,
For remember your Redeemer
Was a lowly teacher, too.
And upon these days that point us
Far away to Bethlehem's plain,
Most of all we feel a Saviour
Neither lived nor died in vain.

As ye thus recall the lessons
That His daily walks reveal,
Imitate His self-denial,
Imitate His holy zeal;
Then your years of patient labor
Will return you golden grain;
Ripened fields will bow in token
That ye have not toiled in vain.