THE BEACON LIGHT.

Husband! 'twas a blessed hour
When we two were united;
I was but a drooping flower,
Heart-crushed, and well nigh blighted.
Good Night!

Heaven! ere I go to rest,

I bare my soul before thee ;
Thy mercies to my heart are press'd,
I worship and adore Thee.

Good Night!

Saviour! I may never see

The dawning of the morrow; I'm at peace with all and Thee, And quench'd is every sorrow. Good Night!

THE BEACON LIGHT.

I'll trim the beacon light,

Thy little house I'll keep ;
I'll watch the waves all night,

I will not fall asleep.

I trim my light, then seek my bed,

The waves beneath, the storm o'erhead.

I'll watch the scatter'd stars,

The moon as she doth rise;

Morn's rosy golden bars,

Athwart the gorgeous skies.

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192

THE BEACON LIGHT.

I stir the fire, shut out the wind,
I like my glass to be well lined.

I'll watch the dancing waves,
Those merry things at play;
Over the coral caves

They murmur and bound all day.
I close my ears, I shut my eyes,

I shut out winds, and seas, and skies.

I'll watch each vessel's track,
Upon the ocean wide;

Do all who start come back,

Oh ! may I trust the tide ?

The sea is bright, the foam is white,
It can grow black, aye black as night!

See, it is calm and soft,

Unruff'd, smooth as glass;

The sunlight is aloft,

The sea looks green as grass.

But it can yell, and swell, and moan,
And screech, and shriek, and squall, and groan.

But surely all return,

Hope, love, faith, and youth;
All these are stars that burn,

With the strong fire of truth!

That big salt-bath can put 'em out,
Before they know what they're about.

THE BEACON LIGHT.

Faith, spirit-like, is strong,

Down never can be hurl'd;
Hope cannot lead us wrong,
If truth be in the world.

The sea is wide, the sea is deep,
Tho' like an infant now asleep.

I'll light the beacon light,
I'll light a blazing fire;
Bring lamp on lamp to-night!
Old man, art thou a sire ?

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"Two sons I had, fair lady bright, They both were wreck'd one stormy night!"

Come, I will sing to thee,

To comfort thee I'll try ;

The soul you know is free,

Altho' the flesh may die.

"Both of them good, and bold, and brave, And yet my boys each found a grave !"

The spirit riseth up,

And flies above the flood;

There is salvation's cup

Fill'd with atoning blood.

"With waves they fought, the mighty gale

Did tell once more its horrid tale!"

Shut out the night, the stars,

Yea, tho' the moon should rise!

Shut out the golden bars,

The sun throws o'er the skies!

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LIFE'S BRIGHT BRINK.

"My two brave boys the waves washed in, Both, both were pure of spot, of sin !"

A blessed time for death !

Ah! do not mourn, old man ;
The bright perpetual breath

All elevated can

Shake off each earthly blast.

Waves of the conqu’ring sea,
Tho' wide, and deep, and vast,
Blight but mortality.

But with that said mortality
I lost their immortality!

I trim my Beacon Light

Over their graves, O, sea!
When dark, thou'rt like my night!

'Tis well the soul is free,

Or in despair I'd break the waves,
And lay me down between their graves!

LIFE'S BRIGHT BRINK.

Sing, sing me a song, a sweet song of truth,
Fill'd with the passions and longings of youth;
A song
that shall make me both feel and think,
As I felt and thought when on life's bright brink.
Wring, wring from mine eyes a shower of tears,
Sunny and swift, as in those happy years

THE SLAVE.

When the heart was kind and its feelings soft,
When it was its nature to look aloft.

Sing, sing me a song, Oh! bring back, restore
The beautiful dreams of my fancy once more!
Sing, sing me a song, ah! bià me forget
That sorrows have often bathed my

cheek wet; Sing, sing me a song that shall bid depart

195

Those memories that weigh like lead on my heart.
Chase, chase thou away each shadow, each stain,
And let me feel young and all pure again!
My spirit set free from its earthly chains,
Deep have the fetters been buried in pains!
Sing, sing me a song, Oh! let my heart break,
Or heal up its wounds, for sweet mercy's sake!

THE SLAVE.

I did inherit slavery,

A manly, mighty dower!

I did inherit bravery,

'Tis nature's native flower!

Between my chains the leaves peep through,

To sip the morning air;

To drink deep draughts of living dew,
To save me from despair.

Thought sprinkles out its many stars,
Thick thro' my sphere of night;
They scorn my prison, fetters, bars,
They shower upon me light.