Home Lyrics: A Book of Poems Part 15

A WELCOME FROM LIVERPOOL.

_To Her Majesty the Queen, May 11th, 1886_

Beloved Queen of Britain's sea-girt Isles, And lands o'er which the grand Sun ever smiles, Accept from Liverpool, we humbly pray, The heartiest welcome loyal hearts can pay.

Thrice welcome to this enteprising Port, Whose ships to Earth's remotest point resort, Making our City a commercial throne, For merchant princes of deserved renown.

The loyal shouts which will beset thy way, And hearty cheers which thrill thy heart to-day, Are but expressions impotent to tell, Our fealty to the Queen we love so well.

We welcome also Connaught's Prince with pride, And the Prince Henry and his royal bride, And pray they may in wedded bliss long live, With every blessing heaven and earth can give.

Our Exhibition, we would fondly hope, May prove with former splendid shows to cope; But chief its maritime displays we deem, May gain the approbation of our Queen.

Peoples of other and far distant lands, Have toiled with active brains and willing hands, Working with compet.i.tion's keen excess, To make the shipperies a grand success.

In its arrangements may a lion's share Of grateful thanks be given to our mayor, To whose untiring enterprise is due, The grand result which we now proudly view.

What rich displays of scientific art, Applied to manufactures, form a part Of its instruction, and what mines of wealth Have they not sprung to minister to health.

What triumphs of constructive power are here, What force in those huge engines doth appear, Which leagued with steam are conquering time and s.p.a.ce And quickening intellect to giant's pace.

And see, yon granite structure towering high, As if earth's wildest tempest to defy, Lighthouse of Eddystone, reared at Land's End, To storm-tossed mariners an angel friend!

And fitting offspring of this n.o.ble tower, To shipwrecked mariners a priceless dower, Are those blest life-boats merciful to save Full many a sufferer from a watery grave.

Yonder the graceful trophy, typical Of our fair City's commerce, trade and skill, A not unworthy tribute to form part Of the world's storehouse of constructive art.

Magnificent displays from every clime!

Columbia, Afric', Asia, all combine With Europe, in this peaceful contest won From every nation known beneath the Sun!

Science, with her fair sister Art, unite With nature, to form parterres rare and bright, Preside at buffets of refreshment pure, To make enjoyment in the whole more sure.

All industries have freely lent their aid.

And to our city's fete grand tribute made, Too numerous the products, rich and rare, In this too brief description to have share,

Suffice it that the whole is richly worth A pilgrimage from any part of earth, Besides the l.u.s.tre shed by thee, dear Queen, Over the practical, inspiring scene.

Well do we, who are acting out life's part In its last scene, remember with sad heart, How nearly five and thirty years ago, Thou came'st here, with thy loved one, in life's glow!

Albert the Good! long shall his honoured name Deep love and reverence from all people claim; Cultured and intellectual, virtuous, kind.

His manly heart was generous and refined.

n.o.ble by birth, yet n.o.bler far by deed, In philanthrophic work he took the lead, With thy enn.o.bling union strengthened, graced, His name on Fame's grand scroll is firmly traced.

Accept, beloved Queen, ere thou depart, The fervent prayer of every loyal heart, That the Great Father bless and guard thee long, Thy gracious reign to prosper and prolong.

IN RESPONSE TO A KIND GIFT OF FLOWERS.

Your beauteous gift of lovely brilliant flowers, My dear young friend, has cheered my suffering hours, With loved charged telegrams from nature's king, Such as these messengers to mortals bring.

In gorgeous hues of scarlet, pink and white, Caught from the glorious sun's electric light.

And sheened by lovely fronds of maiden hair, With which no emerald jewels could compare.

How merciful the ways of providence!

Our daily life with such sweet joys to fence, And linking with them such divine discourse, To point the way to heavenly intercourse!

What pure benevolence has called them forth, Calm, blooming offspring of rejoicing earth, Never to sadden, ever to make gay, And chase the clouds of gloom and care away.

Responding with delight to human care, Loading with fragrance the enraptured air, Proving that culture and refinement can, Increase the happiness of plants and man.

While the divine suggestions which they impart, Are elevating both to mind and heart; Calm and refresh the spirit, and incite To seek through nature's laws "The kindly light."

For nature is G.o.d's revelation sure, Which ever was and ever shall endure, A daily new creation, to inspire To simple pleasures and devine desire.

Then let us question nature more and more, Her glorious realm more ardently explore, Since she has joys unbounded to extend, To all who truly seek to be her friend.

HEALTH.

Of all the blessings which kind heaven bestows, From infancy to life's most lengthened close, The one, far greater than all earthly wealth, Is the inestimable gift of health; But as this precious gift of heaven is placed Greatly within our power to use or waste, Should not its scientific study claim Our grave attention and our best care gain?

Without it, the bright jewel of the mind Is apt to get distorted, weak and blind, And if not previously well schooled and trained, Becomes to fears unjustified enchained.

This chiefest blessing of all bounteous heaven, Is to His children by the Father given As a productive talent, to be used For universal good, and not abused.

It thus becomes a solemn charge, that each Who understands it thus, should others teach, By individual efforts, and means paid, For missionary service widely laid, And as strong healthy minds so much depend, On healthy bodies; to this righteous end.

Should not all education be then based On this foundation and with it enlaced?

Let children even, learn that kindly heaven, To them this priceless heritage has given, Which they must learn to use with constant care, And of its dangerous abuse beware.

Why should they not be early taught to know The dire effects from alcohol that flow, As well as the right use of generous food.

And well-timed exercise to cleanse the blood.

To trace th' effects that flow from every cause: With ventilation's most important laws, Of cleanliness of mind and person too, And strict exact.i.tude in all they do, And to breathe through their nostrils, meant to be Their ever ready respirator free: To masticate, not bolt their food, and try To learn themselves, and know the reason why.

Thus being early taught, in after life They might be better armoured for the strife Of fierce temptations, which, when conquered, can Strengthen and elevate the inner man, For soon or later each is bound to learn, That every talent must make fair return, To Him who mercifully gave its use, For joyful happiness, and not abuse.

There are three sanitary agents given To mankind, by the gracious G.o.d of heaven, Freely and without stint, for all who choose These blessed ministers of His to use.