We who have loved her right well,

We who have known her, and tried her,

Marvelous tales could we tell;

Tales of the Sioux and the Mandan,

Tales of the Sheyenne as well;

Deeds of brave Custer and Sully,

Fain unto you we would tell.

Hard have we worked, and we’ve conquered,

Conquered the Red Man—the sod.—

Over the primeval prairies

Forward and onward we’ve trod.

Fought we with sword and with ploughshare,

Wresting our bread from the clod—

Virgin and untouched we found it

As left by the hand of our God.

[Pg 24]

Yes, we’ve weathered the blizzards.

Crop failures many we’ve known.—

Early and late have we labored,

Felt the cold wind to the bone.—

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