The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 997, February 4, 1899

“GOD SPEED THEE!”
Oh, happy bride! Heaven’s sunlight wraps thee in a golden gleam, And in thine eyes the light of love supreme, And in thy heart the dawning of a dream, And what beside!
Hopes reaching wide, Out into the new life unbegun, Into the untrodden ways thy feet may run And the dim future only known by One— The One Who died.
And a sweet pride That thou art chosen the whole world above, And girt about with mightiness of love, Which waits to cherish thee as tend’rest dove Till death divide.
And there abide In thy full heart most sweet-sad memories Of one who smiles on thee from out the skies, Thy best belovèd, now in Paradise, Thy earliest guide;
At whose dear side Thy girlhood’s opening flower sweetly grew, Till death transplanted her into the blue; There to watch over thee with love more true And purified.
In the untried And varying life which waits thee, rosy-hued, God speed thee! and give daily grace renewed, And bless with all His large beatitude Thy marriage-tide.
Though thou be tried And troubled oftentimes in this new life, Christ wall be with thee through the calm and strife, Help thee to beautify the name of wife, Oh, happy bride!
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A TALE OF THE FRANCO-ENGLISH WAR NINETY YEARS AGO.