Purer than thy own white snow, Nobler than thy mountains' height； Deeper than the ocean's flow, Stronger than thy own proud might； O Northland！ to thy sister land, Was late thy mercy's generous deed and grand.

    Nigh twice ten years the sword was sheathed¹： Its mist of green o'er battle plain For nigh two decades Spring had breathed； And yet the crimson² life-blood stain From passive swards had never paled, Nor fields, where all were brave and some had failed.

    Between the Northland, bride of snow, And Southland, brightest sun's fair bride, Swept, deepening ever in its flow, The stormy wake, in war's dark tide： No hand might clasp across the tears And blood and anguish³ of four deathless years.

    When Summer, like a rose in bloom, Had blossomed from the bud of Spring, Oh！ who could deem the dews of doom⁴ Upon the blushing lips could cling？ And who could believe its fragrant⁵ light Would e'er be freighted with the breath of blight⁶？

    Yet o'er the Southland crept the spell, That e'en from out its brightness spread, And prostrate⁷, powerless, she fell, Rachel-like, amid her dead. Her bravest, fairest, purest, best, The waiting grave would welcome as its guest.

    The Northland, strong in love, and great, Forgot the stormy days of strife⁸； Forgot that souls with dreams of hate Or unforgiveness e'er were rife⁹. Forgotten was each thought and hushed； Save —— she was generous and her foe¹⁰ was crushed.

    No hand might clasp, from land to land； Yea！ there was one to bridge the tide！ For at the touch of Mercy's hand The North and South stood side by side： The Bride of Snow, the Bride of Sun, In Charity's espousals are made one.

    "Thou givest back my sons again," The Southland to the Northland cries； "For all my dead, on battle plain, Thou biddest my dying now uprise： I still my sobs¹¹, I cease my tears, And thou hast recompensed my anguished¹² years.

    "Blessings¹³ on thine every wave, Blessings on thine every shore, Blessings that from sorrow save, Blessings giving more and more, For all thou gavest thy sister land, O Northland, in thy generous deed and grand."