Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-06-23
in England
Grace Darlirl z.

among the uWelicrS III t1e silent neluS
The natural heart is touched, and public way
And crowded street rcsound with ballad strains,
Inspired by ONE whose very name bespeaks
Favor divine, exalting human love;
Whom, since her birth on bleak Northumbrias coas,
Known unto few, but priced us far as known,
A single act endears to high and low
Through the whole and-to manhood, moven in spite
or the worlds freezing e-to generous youth
To Infancy, that llsps her prase-and age,
Whose eye reflects it, glistening through tear
OF remulous admiration. Such true fame
Awaits her no,e; but, verify, good deeds
DO not impershable record find
Save in the rolls of Heaven, where hers may 1.-Two
a theme for ages, when they celebrate
The high souIed virtues which lorgetful earth
Has witnessed. Oh /! that winds and waves could
OF things winch their united power called forth speak
From the pure depths of her humanity!
A maiden gentle, yet, al duy's call,
Firm and untllnchlng as the lighthouse reared
On the island rock, her lonely dwelling place,
Or like the nvincble rock Itself, that braves,
Age after age, the hostile elements,
As when il guarded holy Cuthbcrt's cell
All night the storm had ragged ceased nor paused
When, as day broke, the maid, through misty air,
Espies far Off wreck, amid the surf
Beating of those disastrous isles
Half OF vesscl-half-no more; the rest
Had vanished, swallowed up with all that there
Had for the common safety strven in vain,
Or thther thronged for refuge, With quick glance
Daughter and sire, through optic glass discern,
Clineng about the remnant of this ship,
Creatures-how precious in the maden'e sight!
For whom, belize the old man grieves still more
Than for their fellow sufferers engulfcd
Where every parting agony IS hushed,
And hope and fear mix not in further Strife
But courage, father let us out 10 sea-
A few may yet be saved" The daughters words,
Her earnest tone, and look beaming with faith,
Dispel the fathers doubts: nor do they lack
The noble minded mothers helping hand
To launch the boat; and with her blessing cheered
And lnwardy sustained by silent prayer,
Together they put forth, father and child
Each grasps an oar, and struggling on they 60,
Rivals in effort and, alike intent
Here to eude and there surmount, they watch
The llows leng henlng, mutually crossed
And shattered and re-gatheiing their might;
AS if the wrath and trouble of the
Were by the ALMiGnTys suflerence prolonged,
That woman's forlitude-so tried, proved
May brighten mole and more!
True to the mark
They stem the current of that perous gorge, lheart,
Their aims still Strengthening with the Strengthening
Though danger, as the wreck is heard, becomes
More imminent. Not unseen do they approach,
Aud rapture, with varieties Of fear
necessarily conflicting, thrills the frames
OF those who, IN that dauness energy
Foretaste dellverance but the least perturbed
Can scarcely trust his eyes, when he perceives
That of the pair tossed on the waves 10 bring
Hope TO the hopeless, to the dying. life
One is n woman poor earthly sister,
Or he the vlsant other than she seems,
A guardian spirit sent from plying heaven
In wonan's shape. But why prolong the tale
Casting weak words amid host Of thoughts
Armed TO repel them Z Every hazard faced
And difficulty mastered with resolve
That no one breathing should be left 10 perish,
The last remainder of the crew are all
Placed in ,heile boat, then Ger the deep
Are safely borne, landed upon the beach,
And in fnlflment of Gods mercy, lodged
Within the shelteIing light house. Shout, ye waves
Pipe n glad song OF triumph. ye fierce winds;
Ye screaming sea-mews, IN the concertJon!
And would that some immortal voice, avoce
Fifty a,uned TO all that gratitude ,
Breathes out from floor couch, through pallid lps
OF the survivors, TO the clouds might bear--
Offended with praise Of that parental love,
Beneath whose waichfu eye the maiden grew
Pous and pure modest, and We, SO brave,
Though young wise, though meek so resolute)-
Might carry to the clouds and to the stars,
Yes to the celestial choirs, Grace Darllng's name!