"God of the centuries! today

A hundred years their tale have told, And lingering in their solemn shade We listen to the days of old. To us how vast the century's flight! To Thee as watches in the night.

"God of eternity! Thy hand

To nobler hills has beckoned on The fathers, who, by many toils

For us this pleasant dwelling won; With them hereafter may we raise Celestial anthems to Thy praise."

"God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath Whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine,
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!

"The tumult and the shouting dies,
The captains and the kings depart;
Still stands Thine ancient Sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart,
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!"

GENTENNIAL POEM.

(Written by Mrs. HELEN S. Robertson. )

Hail Sumner! proudly we hail thee to-day.
Thou hast reached a milestone on thy way,
And for once from care and toil we are free ;
We consecrate this day to God and thee.
Then hail! we'll make the welkin ring with cheers,
In honor and praise of thy crowning years,
From Mt. Benson's summit bold and grand,
Throughout the length and breadth of the land.

Hail Sumner! gladly we hail thee again,
In honor of the brave women and men
Who the perils of the wilderness dared,
And many privations and hardships shared,
That to posterity they might hand down
Freedom and homes in this delightful town.
These pioneers lived lives good and true,
Their tastes were simple and their wants were few.

They built their cabins by the wild beast's lair,
Their paths were crossed by the wolf and bear;
The stealthy panther in the forest stayed;
The Indian in feathers and blanket arrayed,
Reared his bark wigwam on the mountain side,
No roads, only spotted trees for a guide;
Brave and undaunted, many dangers they faced;
Their names on the honor roll should be placed.

Time pauses not, it has forged ahead
Until one hundred years have sped.

A century has wrought a wonderous change—
We can scarcely believe it, 'tis so strange.

Now neat farmhouses dot hillside and plain,
With fruitful orchards and fields of grain;
Here and there church spires dot in the sun,
And schoolhouses open to every one.

Then, fondly loved Sumner, we hail!
Thou'rt lovely. When mists thy mountain veil,
And every lake within its rocky bed
Mirrors trees and flowers, while overhead
The azure sky with clouds of faintest gray,
Just touched with pink, at the dawn of day,
Surmounts a scene of such rare loveliness
That words can but imperfectly express.

Hail Sumner! loudly we hail thee and well,
In memory of our heroes who fell
Defending their country-fighting for the right.
Forget not heroes that are yet in sight,
They have been ready in their country's cause.
Sumner's men have done duty in all wars-
Stood by their colors as if't mattered not
When surrounded by flying shell and shot.

We stand to-day on the selfsame sod
Which was by our forefathers trod.
What a boon to us they did bequeathe!
There's freedom in the air we breathe-
We pledge ourselves this boon to keep.
Great Keeper, who doth not slumber nor sleep,
With thy help our town shall be free

For many and many a century.

THE TOASTS.

Our Oldest Inhabitants: Sumner present joins hands with Sumner past, and seeks her benediction on Sumner future.

Response by CAPT. LEWIS BISBEE.

Our Ancestors: May the industry and integrity that characterized their lives be emulated by their posterity. Response by HENRY B. HERSEY.

Ye Pedagogues: The masons who wield the trowel. If the boys of Sumner have builded well in the architecture of life, it is because the foundations

were well laid. Response by James B. Chaffin.

The Boys of the old-time District School,
The pranks they played and the master's rule.
Response by SHARON ROBINSON.

Sumner's first Sunday School: Recollections of a charter member who has never graduated.

Response by DEA. JOSIAH T. STETSON.

The Church: Inseparably connected with Sumner's past history, her present good name and her future hopes. Response by REV. P. E. MILLER.

The Sons of Sumner: Be they far or near our hearts are with them, and we rejoice at their success. May their native heath ever occupy a warm corner in their memories. Response by NAHUM MOORE.

The Daughters of Sumner: We love them.

Response by ALBERT D. PARK.

Sumner in the War: Her quota was always full. Response by CAPT. CHARLES H. PRINCE.

Sumner at the Bar: May she in her practice be instrumental in closing the "open bars," and in placing offenders behind the bars.

Response by PRENTISS CUMMINGS.

Our next Centennial: May our children's children do it honor. Response by JOSEPH A. NOYES. Long Suffering Cuba: May she soon be free. Response by W. STANWOOD Field.

The Pine Tree State: Physically, intellectually and morally, she furnishes timber for the Union. Response by HON. ENOCH W. WOODBURY.