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162  163
MRS. GRAY.

The wind that fill'd her swelling sheet from many a point has blown, 
Still urging her unchanging course through shoals and breakers on, 
Her fluttering pennon still the same whatever breeze might blow, 
It pointed, as it does to heaven, two hundred years ago. 

When first our gallant ship was launch'd, although her hands were few, 
Yet dauntless was each bosom found, and every heart was true! 
And still, though in her mighty hull unnumber'd bosoms glow, 
Her crew is faithful, as it was two hundred years ago!

True, some have left this noble craft, to sail the seas alone, 
And made them in their hour of pride a vessel of their own;
Ah me! when clouds portentous rise, when threatening tempest blow,
They'll wish for that old vessel built two hundred years ago!

For onward rides our gallant bark, with all her canvass set, 
In many a nation still unknown, to plant her standard yet;
Her flag shall float where'er the breeze of freedom's breath shall blow,
And millions bless the boat that sail'd two hundred years ago! 

On Scotia's coast, in days of yore, she lay almost a wreck, 
Her mainmast gone, her rigging torn, the boarders on the deck,
There Cameron, Cargill, Cochran fell, there Renwick's blood did flow, 
Defending our good vessel built two hundred years ago!

Ah! many a martyr's blood was shed, we may not name them all; 
They tore the peasant from his hut, the noble from his hall;
Then, brave Argyle, thy father's blood for faith did freely flow, 
And pure the stream as was the fount two hundred years ago!

Yet onward still our vessel press'd, and weather'd out the gale;
She clear'd the wreck, and spliced the mast, and mended every sail; 
And swifter, stauncher, mightier far, upon her cruise did go;
Strong hands and gallant hearts had she two hundred years ago!

And see her now on beam-ends cast, beneath a north-west storm, 
Heave overboard the very bread to save the ship from harm; 
She rights! she rides! hark how they cheer, All's well! above, below!
She's tight as when she left the stocks two hundred years ago.
 
True to that guiding star which led to Israel's cradled hope, 
Her steady needle pointeth yet to Calvary's bloody top! 
Yes, there she floats, that good old ship, from mast to keel below
Sea-worthy still, as erst she was two hundred years ago!

Not unto us, not unto us, be praise or glory given,
But unto Him who watch and ward hath kept for us in heaven;
Who quell'd the whirlwind in its wrath, bade tempests cease to blow,
That God who launch'd our vessel forth two hundred years ago!

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-28 07:27:15 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-28 15:37:27 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-28 21:34:51 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-29 09:31:33