Pleasantly the breezes

Speed us swift along!Merrily the cordage

Breaketh into song.

Buoyant is her motion !

Graceful is her form!

Flitting o'er the ocean,

Braving wind and storm.

Many hearts are waiting.

For the gladsome day;

When, her voyage ended,
We anchor in the bay.

Then shall come our sweethearts !----
Then shall come our wives!-

Then shall come the dear ones!-
Who brighten up our lives,

Standing on the pier-ways

By the landing-place,

Gazing out towards us

With enraptured face.

Longing for to meet us,

Bid us welcome home !Standing there to greet us,Safe across the foam !

Then we'll sing for gladness,

As we grasp their hands :—

Dear England, how we love thee!Before all other lands!

How sweet that early morn

When first we met !

No shadow then of agony

Which pains me even yet ;

But all was bright and beautiful With love, and hope, and youth; And peerless mid the beautiful, Wert thou, my love, in truth.

As one who looks upon

Some lovely flower

He ne'er hath seen before;

So did I gaze on thee,

Enchanted with thy winsomeness—

Thy soul's sweet rarity!

Our eyes they met,

Then turned away,

To meet full oft again;

And every glance our love bespoke, 'Twas to each other plain.

For as the wayside well reflects The form of him who draws;

So doth the heart reflect itself, And pleadeth well its cause.

Thus gradually and silently,

As opes the budding flower,
There came upon us peacefully
A blessed, holy dower-
A confidence and influence

Known only heart to heart ;

Yet strong, and full, and durable,
Love only could impart.—

Yea, though we were but children then
Scarce entering on our teens,

Still in our hearts there grew first love With all its golden scenes;

And all its little courteous acts

Which pleasant make the hours; And round life's pathway gently strew The fragrance of sweet flowers.

Returning homeward from our school One mellow close of day,

Some schoolmates wild with jealousy
Stood menacing the way ;—
Then was it seen the force of love
To conquer and restrain ;—

To quell the anger of the lads,

And make them blush with shame ;—

For, like a flash, from mid a group

Of homeward-going girls,

Dear Minnie came, and stood by me,-
Then dared them harm a hair,
Lest her displeasure on them fell ;—
So let them all beware!

In memory still I see her now!—
Nor shall that memory fade!—
Whilst life shall last within this heart!
And strength to do and brave :—
A girlish figure, tall and slim !-
Her features all aglow

With rose-tints, like carnations sweet,

Which summer winds do blow!

And blue-black hair, in tresses rare ;—

Match for her bonnie eyes!—

Then bright and sparkling, like the seas, When all their waves arise ;

And on them radiantly the sun

Doth beam like living gold;

While every little tossing crest,
Has beauty manifold ;-

So did she stand in loveliness !----
In beauty all her own!-
In fascinating winsomeness !-

The very ground her throne !-
For she was every inch a queen !—

This noble Cornish maid!—

And worthily upon the scene,
Her queenly part she played.

Abashed, then, and blushing deep,
The lads they moved away;
Yet smiling approbation sweet
For her whose brave display

Had won their hearts,

And checked their hands;

Had calmed their jealous ire,

Who, to obey her least commands,

Would willing walk through fire.

Well, as for me, I scarcely knew,

So sudden was the scene!

The right or wrong thing best to do ;But stood as in a dream;

While o'er me rolled in tidal waves,

Of ever deep'ning power,