A nation's hearty welcome take,
Heir to a mighty throne;
Thrice welcome! for old England's sake,
Thy mother's, and thine own.
From crowded street, from hillside green,
From fair Canadian vales,
The prayer goes up—God bless the Queen!
God bless the Prince of Wales!
The rich and poor, the great and small
Their voices join as one;
Victoria's name is dear to all,
So is Victoria's Son.
Their tribute other queens have laid
Upon the land and sea;
But never earthly monarch swayed
So many hearts as she.
And for her young and gallant heir
A kindred love prevails;
God hear a nation's fervent prayer!
God bless the Prince of Wales!
OUR NATIVE LAND.
[This was probably written in the early part of the year 1861, before Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had given deliverance to the captives, and when "the north star" was an object dear to many a slave who longed to breathe the free air of Canada. The Rev. E. H. Dewart says of it: "This spirited lyric is alike creditable to the talents, patriotism, and independence of its author. Its loyalty is an intelligent attainment, free from blind prejudice and crouching adulation.">[
What land more beautiful than ours?
What other land more blest?
The South with all its wealth of flowers?
The prairies of the West?
Oh no! there's not a fairer land
Beneath yon azure dome—
Where Peace holds Plenty by the hand,
And Freedom finds a home.
The slave who but her name hath heard,
Repeats it day and night,
And envies every little bird
That takes its northward flight.