SELECT POETRY

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 68, 29 May 1869, Page 5

SELECT POETRY

A BAHD'9 GREETING.

(From the Gaelic)

homely and kerchief d, blooming, fresh and fair,

All hail and welcome ! joy and peace be thine ; £>f happiness and health a bounteous share.

Be shower'd upon thee from the hand divine. ■Wearing the matron's coif, thou seem'st to be Even lovelier now than erst, when fancy-free, ■Thou in thy beauty's strength didst steal my heart from me.

'Though young in years thou'rt now a wedded wife; O seek His guidacce who can guide aright, 'With aid from Him, the rugged path of life May still be trod with pleasure and delight ; For He who made us bids vis not forego A single sinless pleasure in this world of woe.

Be open-handed, but be eident too, Be strong and full of courage, but be staid \ Aught like unseemly folly still eschew — Be faultless wife as thou wast faultless maid ! fiuard against hasty speech and temper violent, Aad-knowing when to speak, know also to be silent.

£riiard thy good name and mine from smallest stain ; in manner still be kindly, frank, and free ; jEf thou'rt reviled, i-evile not thou again ; In hour of trial, calm and patient be ; And when thy cup is full, walk humbly still, A careless, proud, rash step the blissful cup may spill.

With this bard's blessing on thy wedded morn, All at thy biidal chamber-door we greet thee; May every joy of truth and goodness born Through all thy life-long journey crowd to meetfthee ; And may the God of Peace now richly shed A blessing oa thy kerchief-cinctured head !