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HON. JOHN A. DECKER OF WELD.

IN the growth of inland cities, he has played important part;
Rumford Falls and Millinocket, -- was behind them from the start: --
For he early saw a future, for the wheels of industry.
Where the waters idly tumbled o'er the barriers to the sea;
And now mills for pulp and paper with their smoking chimneys tall
Mark the place where all was silence, save the roaring water-fall.
A man of strong convictions, he much rather fight than run,
As you'll learn, on all occasions, when there's fighting to be done;
And one instance I'm recalllng, just to make my meaning plain,
Was when Decker joined with Ricker -- to "Save the Lakes of Maine,"
To this task he lent his service, with an energy and zeal,
That did wonders for a movement, that he spoke the commonweaI.
He has lands along the lakeside -- but no catalog will do
For the best of all his holdings are his friendships, strong and true --
They outclass blocks in Millinocket or all that title gives;
For they bespeak the friend and neighbor, in the spirit that he lives.

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