I said to our Poll-for, d'ye see, she would cry— When last we weighed anchor for sea, "What argufies snivelling and piping your eye? Why, what a blamed fool you must be! Can't you see, the world's wide, and there's room for us all, Both for seamen and lubbers ashore? And if to old Davy, I should go, friend Poll, You never will hear of me more. What then? All's a hazard: come, don't be so soft: For, d'ye see, there's a cherub sits smiling aloft, D'ye mind me, a sailor should be every inch All as one as a piece of the ship, And with her brave the world, not offering to flinch From the moment the anchor's a-trip. As for me, in all weathers, all times, sides and ends, Naught's a trouble from duty that springs; For my heart is my Poll's, and my rhino's my friend's, Even when my time comes, ne'er believe me so soft For the same little cherub that sits up aloft -Charles Dibdin. Ο The Sailor's Consolation. NE night came on a hurricane, The sea was mountains rolling, When Barney Buntline turned his quid, And said to Billy Bowling: "A strong nor'wester's blowing, Bill: Hark! don't ye hear it roar now? Lord help 'em, how I pities them Unhappy folks on shore now! "Foolhardy chaps who live in towns, "And as for them who're out all day On business from their houses, And late at night are coming home, To cheer their babes and spousesWhile you and I, Bill, on the deck Are comfortably lying, My eyes! what tiles and chimney pots Above their heads are flying! "And very often we have heard How men are killed and undone By overturns of carriages- By thieves and fires in London. We know what risks all landsmen run, From nobleinen to tailors; Then, Bill, let us thank Providence That you and I are sailors." The sun in heaven was shining gay, The sea birds screamed as they wheeled round The buoy of the Inchcape bell was seen He felt the cheering power of spring, It made him whistle, it made him sing; His eyes were on the Inchcape float; The boat is lowered, the boatmen row, And he cut the bell from the Inchcape float. Down sank the bell, with a gurgling sound, The bubbles rose and burst around; Quoth Sir Ralph, "The next who comes to the Rock Wont bless the Abbot of Aberbrothok." Sir Ralph the Rover sailed away, He scoured the seas for many a day; And now grown rich with plundered store, He steers his course for Scotland's shore. So thick a haze o'erspreads the sky On the deck the Rover takes his stand; So dark it is they see no land. Quoth Sir Ralph, "It will be lighter soon, But I wish we could hear the Inchcape bell." They hear no sound; the swell is strong; Sir Ralph, the Rover tore his hair; But ever in his dying fear One dreadful sound he seemed to hear- Loud and sudden there was heard, The sound of hammers, blow on blow, She starts-she moves-she seems to feel And lo! from the assembled crowd How beautiful she is! How fair She lies within those arms, that press Through wind and wave, right onward steer! Sail forth into the sea of life, Upon the bosom of that sea Thou, too, sail on, O ship of State! Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee, Our faith triumphant o'er our fears, -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. And the vain yearning woke 'midst festal song! Hold fast thy buried isles, thy towers o'erthrownBut all is not thine own! To thee the love of woman hath gone down. Dark flows thy tides o'er manhood's noble head, O'er youth's bright locks, and beauty's flowery crown! Yet must thou hear a voice-" Restore the dead! Earth shall reclaim her precious things from thee!Restore the dead, thou sea!" -Felicia Dorothea Hemans. Signs of Rain. [Forty reasons for not accepting an invitation of a friend to make an excursion with him.] HE hollow winds begin to blow; TH 2 The clouds look black, the glass is low, 3 The soot falls down, the spaniels sleep, 4 And spiders from their cobwebs peep. 5 Last night the sun went pale to bed, 9 The walls are damp, the ditches smell, 10 Closed is the pink-eyed pimpernel. II Hark, how the chairs and table crack! 12 Old Betty's nerves are on the rack; 13 Loud quacks the duck, the peacocks cry, 14 The distant hills are seeming nigh, 15 How restless are the snorting swine! 16 The busy flies disturb the kine, 17 Low o'er the grass the swallow wings, 18 The cricket, too, how sharp he sings! 19 Puss on the hearth, with velvet paws, 20 Sits wiping o'er her whiskered jaws; 21 Through the clear streams the fishes rise, 22 And nimbly catch the incautious flies. 23 The glow-worms, numerous and light, 24 Illumed the dewy dell last night; 25 At dusk the squalid toad was seen, 26 Hopping and crawling o'er the green; 27 The whirling dust the wind obeys, 28 And in the rapid eddy plays; 29 The fog has changed his yellow vest, 30 And in a russet coat is dressed 31 Though June, the air is cold and still, 32 The mellow blackbird's voice is shrill; 33 My dog so altered is his taste, 34 Quits mutton-bones on grass to feast; 35 And see yon rooks, how odd their flight! 36 They imitate the gliding kite, 37 And seem precipitate to fall, 38 As if they felt the piercing ball. 39 'Twill surely rain; I see with sorrow 40 Our jaunt must be put off to-morrow. —Edward Jenner. |