The poem was said tremblingly, solemnly, without a trace of affectation. They stood as if a ray had shot up among them from the earth, in all the splendours of the rainbow. No one spoke, no one moved;--but the captain could no longer control himself, he sprang up, puffed, stretched himself, and said: "Well I don't know how it is with you; but when I am taken in this way, the deuce take me if--"--"Captain, there you swore again," said the little girl, and held up her finger threateningly; "the devil will come this very hour and take you!"--"Well, it is all the same my child, let him come, for now I must, the deuce take me, must have a patriotic song!" And so he began with a voice so terrific, that one would have thought the great stomach gave pressure as organ bellows--and the rest with him:-- I will watch our land, I will build up our land I will further its cause in my prayers, in my home, I will increase its gains, And its wants seek with pains From the boundary out to the driving sea foam. There is sunlight enough, There are corn fields enough, If we pull but together there's plenty of stuff. Midst the labour and strife There's poetical life To raise up our land if our love's strong enough. To search and to save We went far o'er the wave, In the countries around rise our watch towers of yore; But our ensign to-day Waveth further away, And it waveth in vigour as never before. And our future is great, For the three cloven state Shall be joinèd again, shall herself be once more. Then whate'er you can spare Let the neediest share, And a gathering river shall treasure the store. Scandinavia's ours, And we'll value her powers, What she was, what she is, what she shall be again, And as love has its birth In the dear homely earth, From the seed corn of love shall she spring up again.