WILLIAM KIRBY

WILLIAM KIRBY

WHAT went ye to the wilderness to see?A shaking reed? Men in king's houses dwelling?A prophet? Yea, more than a prophet tellingOf lands new named for Christ—a gift in fee,And heritage of millions yet to be.Green prairies like an ocean swellingFrom rise to set of sun—great rivers spellingTheir rugged names in Blackfoot and in Cree.That went you forth to see, and saw it lie,The glorious land reserved by God till now,For England's help in need—to drive the plough,A thousand miles on end—till in the skyThe snowy mountains, from the plains upborne,Bear on the proudest peak the name of Lorne.

WHAT went ye to the wilderness to see?A shaking reed? Men in king's houses dwelling?A prophet? Yea, more than a prophet tellingOf lands new named for Christ—a gift in fee,And heritage of millions yet to be.Green prairies like an ocean swellingFrom rise to set of sun—great rivers spellingTheir rugged names in Blackfoot and in Cree.That went you forth to see, and saw it lie,The glorious land reserved by God till now,For England's help in need—to drive the plough,A thousand miles on end—till in the skyThe snowy mountains, from the plains upborne,Bear on the proudest peak the name of Lorne.

WHAT went ye to the wilderness to see?A shaking reed? Men in king's houses dwelling?A prophet? Yea, more than a prophet tellingOf lands new named for Christ—a gift in fee,And heritage of millions yet to be.Green prairies like an ocean swellingFrom rise to set of sun—great rivers spellingTheir rugged names in Blackfoot and in Cree.That went you forth to see, and saw it lie,The glorious land reserved by God till now,For England's help in need—to drive the plough,A thousand miles on end—till in the skyThe snowy mountains, from the plains upborne,Bear on the proudest peak the name of Lorne.

WHAT went ye to the wilderness to see?

A shaking reed? Men in king's houses dwelling?

A prophet? Yea, more than a prophet telling

Of lands new named for Christ—a gift in fee,

And heritage of millions yet to be.

Green prairies like an ocean swelling

From rise to set of sun—great rivers spelling

Their rugged names in Blackfoot and in Cree.

That went you forth to see, and saw it lie,

The glorious land reserved by God till now,

For England's help in need—to drive the plough,

A thousand miles on end—till in the sky

The snowy mountains, from the plains upborne,

Bear on the proudest peak the name of Lorne.


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