  II. "Drifting of smoke wreath, darting of flame;The fire-fiend is working his way; And the ghastly glare o'er the gates of dawn, Streaks far on the opening day. The stairway has fallen, the rafters yield, The flooring is creaking o'erhead; Yet the stout stone wall as a sentry stands, Though the surges of battle outspread. "But lo! from the casement, wide open thrown, By loving hands carefully bound, A basket live-freighted is hastily launched Through flashes of flame to the ground. Kindled is courage, strong effort revives, Grim death and destruction are braved;— What matter the crash of that falling roof! Dear life, in its lustre is saved." III. "Deep murmurs from out of the frowning skies;A rising and swelling of seas; The sailor quick-furleth the outspread sail, For a hurricane toppeth the breeze. No shapelier craft from a British port Ever ventured the heaving tide; Her firm knit hull, and her rigging taut Were the mariner's honest pride. The storm-wraith wails loudly on high; Till battered and torn is the gallant bark In her wrestle 'gainst ocean and sky. Yet she conquers, she rideth the seething foam; And, as bird from prison bars free, She spreadeth her sail 'yond the storm-cloud's rim And skimmeth a tranquil sea." IV. "A young mother sat on a vessel's deck,A flaxen haired babe on her knee; And her thoughts went back to the mountain land, And she sighed for her ain countrie. But the light of love, with the hope of youth In the true woman's heart burns clear; Oh! what unto her is the loneliest wild When the arm which she leans on is near! "One glance to the stalwart form by her side, Her spirit returns to its rest; And gaily she dreameth of happier days In the new land, the glorious West. She raiseth the babe; Oh well for her peace! Where had nestled the darling head, A fierce, flying ball from the Gascon grazed, Ere it plunged in its ocean bed." V. "Name it not chance; No! in earliest youth'Twixt the fire, 'twixt the foe and the flood, Who feedeth the ravens, Who telleth the stars In the pathway of danger stood. And, aye and anon, on the journey up hill, White milestones have pointed the way Through the tangled maze, o'er the rocky steep, To the ridge of an endless day. "Now peaceful in shades of the gloaming I rest, Unawed of the murkier night; Calm-souled I await for the upward call, And the glow of the nearing light. The river's sad moanings I may not hear; High over the murmuring foam Floateth rich music. Ah! sweet to mine ear Those angel tones welcoming home." VI. Intently I listened, but scant my reply;Sorrow and gladness o'er-misted the eye. Gladness for light of a long, lustrous day; Sorrow for sunshine fast fleeting away. More dense than the doole of a starless night The gloom of a soul which knoweth no light. That will which opposeth the Higher Will. Unbeauteous is age when it crusts itself round, Or buries itself in a selfish mound. But blessÈd be those who in soul-growth expand 'Neath the milder beams from the glory-land. Yea blessÈd they be! when the river is passed, They shall enter the gate with the palms at last. FINIS. [Decoration] |
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