NEW JERSEY.

Before my bark the waves have curled As it bore me thrice around the world; And for forty years have met my eyes The beauties born under wide-spread skies. But though far and long may be my track, It is never too far for looking back; And I see them,—see them over the sea, As I saw them when youth still dwelt with me,— The brown-eyed girls of Jersey!

They are Quakers, half,—half maids of Spain; Half Yankees, with fiery Southern brain; They are English, French,—they are Irish elves; They are better than all, in being themselves! They are coaxing things,—then wild and coy; They are full of tears,—full of mirth and joy. They madden the brain like rich old wine: And no wonder at all if they’ve maddened mine, Those brown-eyed girls of Jersey!

Some day, when distant enough my track, To the Land of the Free I shall wander back; And if not too gray, both heart and hair, To win the regard of a thing so fair, I shall try the power of the blarney-stone In making some darling girl my own: Some darling girl, that still may be Keeping all her beauty and grace for me,— Some brown-eyed girl of Jersey!