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welcome you, dear Sir, again;

But oh! de comin’ brings us pain,

For though we greet you glad to-day,

Once more you’re bound to go away:

We grieve now deeper than before

To know you’ll be wid us no more.

We fought o’ meetin’ you in gladness;

But no, our hearts are filled with sadness

To learn why we must part from you,

An officer so dear an’ true:

Our prayer is dat de Fates will bless

You an’ your kin wid health an’ peace.

Farewell, dear Sir, farewell again!—

A farewell fraught wi’ deepest pain:

De very ringin’ o’ de bell

Sounds like a wailin’ of farewell;

We feel it deeply, to de core,

To know you’ll be wid us no more.