Heroic Pioneers! Of kings and conquerors fully peers; Well may the men of later day Proclaim your deeds, crown you with bay; Forest-fallers, reigning kings, In that far time that memory brings. Nor savage beast, nor savage man, Majestic forests' frowning ban, Could palsy arms or break the hearts, Till wilds gave way to busy marts; You served your time and country well, Let tuneful voices paeans swell! O, steadfast Pioneers! Bowed 'neath the snows of many years, Your patient courage never fails, Your strong true prayers arise, E'en from the heavenly trails To "mansions in the skies." To noble ones midst daily strife, And those who've crossed the plains of life, Far past the fiery, setting sun, The dead and living loved as one, (Tolls often now the passing bell) We greeting give and bid farewell. O Mother Pioneers! We greet you through our smiles and tears; You laid foundations deep, Climbed oft the sun-beat rocky steep Of sorrow's mountain wild, Descended through the shadowy vales Led by the little child. Within, without your cabins rude As toiling builders well you wrought, With busy hands and constant hearts, And eager children wisdom taught; Long be delayed the passing bell, Long be it ere we say "Farewell!" Beloved Pioneers! Whom glory waits in coming years, You planted here with careful hand The youngest scion in our land Cut from the tree of Liberty; To fullest stature it shall grow, With fruitful branches bending low, Your worth then shall the people know. When all your work on earth is done, Your marches o'er and battles won, (No more will toll the passing bell) They'll watch and wait at Heaven's gate To bid you Hail! and nevermore, Farewell! * * * * * TRANSCRIBER NOTES: Punctuation has been normalized. Footnote has been moved closer to its reference. Archaic and alternate spellings have been retained with the exception of those listed below: page 19: "intenton" changed to "intention" (It is my intention to). page 19: "desirablity" changed to "desirability" (beauty and general desirability). page 36: "strivinig" changed to "striving" (impotently striving to stay). page 38: "clapsed" changed to "clasped" (how she clasped her little child). page 49: "Capt" changed to "Cape" (around Cape Flattery and up the Sound). page 52: "comformation" changed to "conformation" (and the conformation of the leg bones). page 54: "To" changed to "Too" (Too littlee boat for too muchee big waters). page 61: "of" changed to "off" (the salmon they got off the Indians). page 66: "[A]pheasant'" changed to "[A]pheasant's" (bringing some wild [A]pheasant's eggs the men).