Lincoln, your manhood shall survive forever, Shedding a fadeless halo round your name; Urging men on, with wise and strong endeavor, To bright and honest fame! Through years of care, to rest and joy a stranger, You saw complete the work you had begun, Thoughtless of threats, nor heeding death or danger, You toiled till all was done. You freed the bondman from his iron master, You broke the strong and cruel chains he wore, You saved the Ship of State from foul disaster And brought her safe to shore. You fell! An anxious nation's hopes seemed blighted, While millions shuddered at your dreadful fall; But _God is good_! His wondrous hand has righted And reunited all. You fell, but in your death you were victorious; To moulder in the tomb your form has gone, While through the world your great soul grows more glorious As years go gliding on! All hail, great Chieftain! Long will sweetly cluster A thousand memories round your sacred name, Nor time, nor death shall dim the spotless luster That shines upon your fame. [Illustration: STATUE OF LINCOLN By Vinnie Ream, rotunda of the Capitol, Washington, D. C.] Samuel Francis Smith, clergyman, born in Boston, Massachusetts, October 21, 1808. Attended the Boston Latin School in 1820-5, and was graduated at Harvard in 1829 and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1832. Was ordained to the ministry of the Baptist Church at Waterville, Maine, in 1834, where he occupied pastorates from 1834 until 1842, and at Newton, Massachusetts, 1842 to 1854. Was professor of languages in Waterville College while residing in that city, and there he also received the degree of D.D. in 1854. He has done a large amount of literary work, mainly in the line of hymnology, his most popular composition being our national hymn, _My Country, 'Tis of Thee_, which was written while he was a theological student, and first sung at a children's celebration in the Park Street Church, Boston, July 4, 1832. _The Morning Light is Breaking_, was also written at the same place and time. His classmate, Oliver Wendell Holmes, in his reunion poem entitled _The Boys_, thus refers to him: "And there's a nice youngster of excellent pith; Fate tried to conceal him by naming him Smith! But he chanted a song for the brave and the free-- Just read on his medal, 'My Country, of Thee!'" The following poem was written expressly for the exercises held on the Nineteenth Anniversary of President Lincoln's death, at his tomb, Springfield, Illinois, April 15, 1884. THE TOMB OF LINCOLN