SOUNDS AT SEA.

THE weary sea is tranquil, and the breeze
Hath sunk to sleep on its slow-heaving breast.
All sounds have passed away, save such as please
The ear of Night, who loves that music best
The din of day would drown.-The wanderer's song,
To whose sweet notes the mingled charms belong
Of sadness linked to joy,—the breakers small
(Like pebbled rills) that round the vessel's bow
A dream-like murmur make,-the splash and fall
Of waters crisp, as rolling calm and slow,
She laves alternately her shining sides,-
The flap of sails that like white garments vast
So idly hang on each gigantic mast,-
The regular tread of him whose skill presides
O'er the night-watch, and whose brief fitful word
The ready helmsman echoes: these low sounds
Are all that break the stillness that surrounds

Our lonely dwelling on the dusky main.

But yet the visionary soul is stirred,

While fancy hears full many a far-off strain

Float o'er the conscious sea!-The scene and hour

Control the spirit with mysterious power;

And wild unutterable thoughts arise,

That make us yearn to pierce the starry skies!

STANZAS TO MY CHILD.

I.

I GAZE on thy sweet face,

My lightly laughing boy!

And charms no painter's hand could trace
Behold in pride and joy,

While pleasure almost turns to pain,
(For human hearts may scarce sustain
Such bliss without alloy,)

Till tears too sweet for those who grieve
Gush forth to chasten and relieve!

II.

And e'en when sorrow's hour

Brings gloom upon my soul,

And shades o'er Life's dull landscape lour Like clouds that slowly roll

Round solemn Twilight's dusky car,

Thine image kindles as a star,

To cheer me and console,

And dreary thoughts and mournful dreams

Soon

pass like mist 'neath morning beams.

III.

For in that bright blue eye

Still glow the rays of bliss,

Like lustre from an azure sky,

Or realms more fair than this.

Though vexed with worldly cares I roam,
They shall not darken this dear home,
Nor check the rapturous kiss

That greets thy fresh and rosy charms
When clasped within mine eager arms!

IV.

This heart indeed were cold

To feeling's gentle sway, If while thy fairy form I fold,

And those small fingers play

Around my neck, thy face the while
Upraised to catch the wonted smile,
Mine eye could turn away,

Or that calm sullen language wear
That tells of sadness or despair.

V.

I have not darkly roved

O'er Nature's fair domain,

Nor gazed on sun-lit scenes unmoved
In hours of mental pain,

And far less could my soul disown

The light round sinless children thrown That ne'er can shine again

When years bring guilt, and life no more Is bright and joyous as before.

VI.

I see my own first hours,

While lingering over thine;

I see thee pluck the fresh spring-flowers, An artless wreath to twine;

The same bright hues their beauty yields As those I sought in dewy fields,

When kindred bliss was mine;

And while by memory thus beguiled,
I almost deem myself a child.

VII.

How oft the phantom Care

Hath swiftly passed away,

As some night-bird that may not dare
The morning holy ray,

While half unconsciously mine eye
Hath drank thy charms, till suddenly
I felt the fond smile play

Around my lips, nor could refrain,
But kissed thee o'er and o'er again!

VIII.

I've watched thy little wiles, A thousand times and more, And yet they win my ready smiles As freely as before;

Thy dear, familiar, prattled words

Are sweeter than the songs of birds

On some calm sun-lit shore ;

Each new grace brings as proud surprize As lights a star-discoverer's eyes.

IX.

E'en "thrice-told tales" are sweet

That cheerful children tell,

On sounds their lovely lips repeat

The ear for aye could dwell;

Unlike all other things of earth

Their winning ways and sinless mirth

Still hold us as a spell;

In every mood, in every hour

They bear the same enchanting power.

X.

Ah! dearest child, if thou

A child couldst thus remain,

And I for ever gaze as now

On one without a stain

Of earthly guilt or earthly care,

With heart as pure and form as fair
As sainted spirits gain,

Methinks e'en this drear world might seem

A heaven as sweet as man could dream!

XI.

But mortal flowerets grow

"Till all their bright tints fade, And thy maturer bloom must know

The bleak world's tempest-shade ;Thine eyes a father's fall shall trace, His form shall sink before thy face,

And when thine heart hath paid

Its tribute brief of natural tears,

Thou'lt seek awhile what soothes and cheers.

XII.

As I now gaze on thee

E'en thou perchance shall gaze
On one whose smiles of guiltless glee
The same proud bliss shall raise,

"Till he to sterner manhood grown
Shall see thee to the grave go down,
And while thy frame decays
Beneath the cold, damp, silent sod,

Shall follow in the track thou'st trod.