While crickets chirruping and song birds gay,
From valley and from hillside sound their lay.

Four miles of coastline do those arms surround
Of cliff and delta, wood and open ground;
Where stately fir and cedar trees are seen
In contrast with the lighter shades of green;
While on the rocks thick moss and lichen grow,
And rough arbutus shrubs their shadows throw.

When sunset edges all the clouds with gold,
And sea and shore with jewelled wealth untold,
Those rocky cliffs a fitting setting form
To hold that gem of ocean (safe in storm);
And changing lights, warm and elusive, wear
To match the shading of the sea and air.

A maid lives there, who often roams this way;
We're here to greet her when she comes to-day.

[Enter Virginia.]

Kelpies--
Virginia, come and play with us awhile;
Come, be our queen and on our revels smile.
Or if we may but help you o'er the stream,
Our labours shall a moment's frolic seem.

Virginia--
Kelpies, too long you've roamed on mischief bent: