A halo of deep interest !—
A history that endears!
And known to our posterity,
In future far-off years,—

As the commemoration

Of good Victoria's reign !--Wherein the British nation

Won empire, wealth and fame.—

Thus when confederation,

The British race shall bind,

These islands and their colonies!—
In unity and mind;
Then shall the mighty Empire
Remember well this day!

And history in chronicles,

Most truthfully shall say—

There never was a monarch,

That reigned like her before; Though we have been a nation, A thousand years and more!—

Then on, O Queen, rejoicing
Through thy remaining years!-
For mid our ablest Sovereigns,
No name like thine appears !-
And in this zenith of thy fame,
We would that with thee stood,

Thy noble-hearted husband,

Albert the Wise, the Good!-
But that, perchance, is wishing
'Gainst Heaven and its decree ;—
Therefore as finite creatures,

Who know not what should be ;
We thank the God of heaven,

For all that thou hast been;

Those sixty years unto us,

Through many a varied scene!—
And shout with those that see thee
On this historic day :-

'God bless good Queen Victoria
For ever and for aye!'

Composed at Brawby during the latter part of June, 1897.

CRADLE SONG.

PEACE, Baby, peace!

Hush thee, my dear!-
Fret not, my Darling!-

Mother is near !-

Rest, Baby, rest!—

Sleeping-time's come!—

No one shall hurt thee,

Rest, pretty one!

Sleep, Baby, sleep!—

Sweet be thy dreams!—
Visions of beauty!—

Fairy-like scenes !—

Robes of the eve!

Gems from the night !—

All things most lovely,

Beauteous and bright!—

Angels to guard thee,
Vigils shall keep !-
Rest thee, my Darling!—

My little one, sleep!-

THE ALMIGHTY.

My God, I love Thee! 'Tis because
Thou art to me a Friend ;-
One who can soothe and sympathize,
And help till life shall end.

No other friend is like Thee!

Nor can with Thee compare ;
For Thou dost know my sorrows,
My pleasures and my care.—
I could not do without Thee,
Thou centre of the soul !

Thou art its source and fulness,

Its glory and its goal!—

All wisdom and all beauty,

All strength in Thee are found, Mid earth, and air, and ocean,

And in the heavens round!

All merciful, all loving,

Forgiving every day,

Delighting in repentance

Of those who err and stray !Therefore, with faith instinctive, I come as one who knows Thou art a joy in sadness!-

A balm for earthly woes !A God that's true and tender When trials sore are rife !In dangers a Defender ;

And sweeter far than life!

In Thee as God the Father,
In Thee as God the Son,
In Thee as God the Spirit,
Thou ever Blessed One !-
I worship, and I praise Thee,
I love Thee, and adore !-
And trust Thee, now, hereafter,

And on for evermore.

Composed at Babbacombe, August 23-24, 1897.

BYLAND ABBEY.

IN the lovely vale of Mowbray,

Amid romantic scenes,

Made by the hills of Hambleton,

And woods and moorland streams; There standeth Byland Abbey,

In pleasant Bella-land

A ruin now that's noble,

And once superb and grand.— The north and west fronts standing Still speak of what has been ;

Also a spacious chancel,

And a transept ivy green ;—

The windows, too, and arches,

Triforia, and the aisles,—

The doorways three, and pavement,-The grass-grown débris piles,— With length and breadth of structure,

Which mark the sacred fane,—

Each telleth forth most truly

The glory of its reign

A kindly reign that lasted

For nigh four hundred years!—

Till came the Dissolution,—

When, robb'd by King and Peers,