Welcome her, thunders of fort and of fleet! Welcome her, thundering cheer of the

street!

Welcome her, all things youthful and sweet,

Scatter the blossom under her feet!
Break, happy land, into earlier flowers!
Make music, O bird, in the new - budded
bowers!

Blazon your mottoes of blessing and prayer! Welcome her, welcome her, all that is ours!

Warble, O bugle, and trumpet, blare!
Flags, flutter out upon turrets and towers!
Flames, on the windy headland flare!
Utter your jubilee, steeple and spire!
Clash, ye bells, in the merry March air!
Flash, ye cities, in rivers of fire!

Rush to the roof, sudden rocket, and higher

Melt into stars for the land's desire!
Roll and rejoice, jubilant voice,

Roll as a ground - swell dash'd on the strand,

Roar as the sea when he welcomes the land, And welcome her, welcome the land's desire,

The sea-kings' daughter as happy as fair,
Blissful bride of a blissful heir,

Bride of the heir of the kings of the sea
O joy to the people and joy to the throne,
Come to us, love us and make us your
own;

For Saxon or Dane or Norman we,
Teuton or Celt, or whatever we be,

We are each all Dane in our welcome of thee,

Alexandra!

THE GRANDMOTHER

First printed in Once a Week,' July 16, 1859, with the title, The Grandmother's Apology,' and an illustration by Millais.

I

AND Willy, my eldest-born, is gone, you say, little Anne ?

Ruddy and white, and strong on his legs, he looks like a man.

And Willy's wife has written; she never was over-wise,

Never the wife for Willy; he would n't take my advice.

And she to be coming and slandering me, the base little liar!

But the tongue is a fire, as you know, my dear, the tongue is a fire.

VIII

XIII

And he turn'd, and I saw his cyes all wet, in the sweet moonshine: 'Sweetheart, I love you so well that your good name is mine.

50

and he said likewise

of you well or ill;