THE captain paused, and raised his hand...

THE captain paused, and raised his hand

“See yonder halls, that, tower-crowned

Arise amid the forest grand,

‘ Tis California's college ground

And here her youth of every class

May come and thro’ those portals pass.”

Fair Berkeley! nestling‘ neath the hills

Beside a calm and sparkling bay,

We loitered long beside its rills,

In flowery paths, that led away

To shady nooks, where might be seen

Fair bowers — fit shrines for wisdom's queen.

From classic halls we turned away

To gaze upon a poet's home;

‘ Twas near the close of that bright day,

And golden sunlight on it shone;

Perfume of flowers, and birds’ songs low

A witching spell about us throw.

And “Songs of the Sierras” there,

With new sweet charms fell on the ear;

Those rhythmic notes came softer where

The singer's presence was so near —

Again, we seemed to hear him say,

As light our boat rocked on the bay:

“For surely godland lies not far

From these Greek heights and this great sea;

My friend, my lover trend this way,

Not far along lies Arcady.” — Joaquin Miller.

And when the sun went down, outside

The Golden Gate, we followed, too,

And sought again the ocean wide,

The while the scenes that charmed our view

Were‘ graven on our hearts for aye,

Sweet visions of an autumn day!

And though our bark in other climes

May loose again its snowy sail,

Our hearts with joy will oftentimes

These isles, these shores, this mount and vale

Recall, and bless that kindly fate

That led Within the Golden Gate.