And, as their splendour flashed and failed, The windows, rattling in their frames,— Until they made themselves a part O flames that glowed! O hearts that yearned! The thoughts that burned and glowed within. Longfellow. THE FIRST DEPARTURE. How grand, oh sea, thou lonely sea, The boy who filled his mother's home With life and joy and gladness, Thou bearest on thy mighty waste, And leav'st but tears and sadness. How grand, old sea, thy lonely waves, I miss him at our morning praise, Oh sea, thou sea, thou lonely sea, His name will aye be mentioned here Remembered in our constant prayer, Oh sea, oh sea, oh lonely sea, Before death's hand shall part from me But greater far than thou, oh sea, Rev. E. Monro. THE CONVICT SHIP. Morn on the waters !--and purple and bright Bursts on the billows the flushing of light; O'er the glad waves, like a child of the sun, See, the tall vessel goes gallantly on. Full to the breeze she unbosoms her sail, And her pennon streams onward, like hope, in the gale ; The winds come around her with murmur and song, And the surges rejoice as they bear her along : Bright as the visions of youth, ere they part, Night on the waves! and the moon is on high, Hung like a gem, on the brow of the sky, Treading its depths in the power of her might, And turning the clouds, as they pass her, to light! Look to the waters! asleep on their breast, Seems not the ship like an island of rest? Bright and alone on the shadowy main, plain! Who--as she smiles in the silvery light, Who-as he watches her silently gliding- 'Tis thus with our life, while it passes along, Like a vessel at sea, amid sunshine and song! Gaily we glide in the gaze of the world, With streamers afloat, and with canvas unfurled, All gladness and glory to wondering eyes, Yet chartered by sorrow and freighted with sighs: |