Oh! true be our friendship-long, long may it stand-

And bright be the prospect before it :

Be it firm as the rocks that encircle thy land,
And green as the turf that grows o'er it!

A WELCOME TO LONGFELLOW.

WRITTEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE POET'S VISIT TO ENGLAND

IN 1868.)

ITH hearty looks and outstretched hands,

WITH

And words of welcome sweet,

Old England on her threshold stands,

Columbia's bard to greet,—

And hails, as does a loving mother, one
Whom she is proud to reckon as her son.

What though long years have passed away
Since first thy fathers sailed

Where, on that shore far distant, they

A home of refuge hailed?

Still, as they stood, to-day their children stand,
To own with us one tongue and fatherland.

What though the wide-spread ocean rolls
Betwixt our home and thine?

The ties that circle kindred souls

Around us fast entwine;

And in our ears have echoed loud and long
The stirring accents of thy noble song.

We do not ask what high degree

The wise on thee bestow :

The honest truths we've learnt of thee
Are all we care to know.

His words can never want a winning grace
Whose heart, like thine, is in its proper place.

Wherever sorrow's tears are shed,

Or misery is near,

Or dark despair bends down the head,

Thy verse prevails to cheer;

And on the weary soul, like summer rain,
Gently descends thy soft and soothing strain.

Poet! to thee we give our hand,

For thou hast won our heart.

Up thick around thee through our land

May warmest greetings start;

And may a welcome sound from every tongue, Where'er thy rhymes are read or songs are sung!

HYMN,

SUNG BY THE READING PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY, ACCOMPANIED BY THE BAND OF THE GRENADIER GUARDS, AT THE CEREMONY OF LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE READING GRAMMAR SCHOOL BY H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, IST JULY, 1870.

Tune, "Gotha" (H.R.H. the late Prince Consort).

LORD, to Thee our prayer addressing,
We, here assembled, humbly ask
That Thou wilt grant Thy fruitful blessing,
Henceforth to rest upon our task.

Throughout this work, Thy care extending
With ever-watchful eye look down;
Its progress, from all harm defending,
With Thine almighty favour crown.

Upon this spot both sow and nourish,
Within the heart of early youth,
The seed of learning that shall flourish
In harvest-fields of golden truth.

May they, to manhood's years attaining,
Their country's welfare keep in view ;
Her virtue and her right maintaining,
In distant days her fame renew.

Be it their best, their sole endeavour
Thy will to do, Thy way to love;
Till all their labours end for ever,

Within Thy realm of rest above.

HASTE TO THE RESCUE.

A PLEA FOR THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR AID TO THE SICK AND WOUNDED IN WAR.

S

EE! the demon of the battle

Hovers o'er his human prey,
As the nations, hot with passion,
Gather to the deadly fray!
Hark! the rifle's rapid volley
And the cannon's growing roar
Tell abroad the horrid tidings

Of the cruel curse of war!

Look how fast the ranks are thinning,
As the conflict spreads around,
And how thick the dead and wounded
Lie upon the shot-torn ground!
Listen how, above the tumult

Of the victor's shouting train,
From a thousand lips to heaven
Goes the bitter cry of pain!

Oh, ye sons of happy England,
In your peace-crowned isle secure!
Think upon the heavy burdens
That your fellow-men endure:
Let your honest hearts be open,
Reach the ready helping hand;
For the succour of the needy

Take at once your willing stand!