"HOW BE'EE, ME DEEAR?"

(The Cornish Greeting). "How be'ee, me deear?" I heard her say, But I was foached to be far away, For the breeze was braave an' the boat in the bay, An' Granny was old an' grey. I didn' turn back to say "Good-bye," For slottery weather was in the sky, The anchor was up an' the punt stood by, Yet Granny was old an' grey! Far I sailed, an' didn' I cast Many a look at the old times past? The lil' grey port as I saw it last? An' Granny old an' grey? At last I came from the yowlin' main, Guessin' to see the place again Jest as it was, as nate an' plain, An' Granny old an' grey. Why didn' I seed the end was nigh? Why didn' I bide to say "Good-bye?" It's too late now to make reply, Granny is gone away. But someday beyond the farthest tide, At last I shall safely at anchor ride, An' I shall be hailed as I come 'longside, "How be'ee, me deear?"