Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 10.djvu/91

 CURTIS

HIS ORATION AT CONCORD*

(1875)

Born in 1824, died In 1892; member of the Brook Farm community; connected with Harper^s Magazine and Earper^s Weekly from 1854 and 1863 until his death; made a Commissioner to devise rules for the Civil Service in 1871, but resigned because of differences with President Grant; President of the Civu Service National Reform League from its formation until his death.

We are fortunate that we behold this day. The heavens bend benignly over, the earth blossoms with renewed life, and our hearts beat joyfully together with one emotion of filial grati- tude and patriotic exultation. Citizens of a great, free, and prosperous country, we come hither to honor the men, our fathers, who, on this spot and upon this day, a hundred years ago, struck the first blow in the contest which made that country independent. Here beneath the hills they trod, by the peaceful river on whose shores they dwelt, amid the fields that they sowed and reaped, proudly recalling their virtue and their valor, we come to tell their story, to try ourselves by their lofty standard to know if we are their worthy children; and,

' From an oration delivered at the Centennial celebration of the Battle of Concorcl, on April IC, 1G.'5. Copyright 1894 by Harper & Brothers.

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