The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-09-03
From Tait's Edinburgh Magazine.
THE OCEAN CHILD.

The sea in its great stiffness seemed one
huge sheet Of glass, rejecting from its gent
ly-heaving bosom the suns warm, glisten-
ing rays. Heaven spread her canopy of
deepest azure, whereon white, feecy, gold
tipped clouds foated Ike tenant specters
of the air, sporting erewhile in mimic chase,
and then vanishing into an essence more
ethereal than themselves.
Nothing of earth-dull earth--was visi-
bic: not one trace of land to dim the bright
ness of the glowing scene, not one being
of human mould-nothing of earthly life
to mar the lonely beauty of the ocean soil
tude. Yet there was life, and beings of
life foated on each ripping wave-danc-
inc on the creamy foam Life strange,
unknown life to poor blind mortals-life of
the spirit kind, dwelling in rare cabinets of
beauty; for there were nymphs with float
ing locks of gold and snowy skins, and
beaming eyes Of fatal brilliancy, which
woo-and win-and promise-but to
curse
The sisters of the deep kept holiday, as
frequently they sported on the surface of
their world They touched their harps of
shell with fairy fingers, and in sweeping
cadence drew forth rich tones of melody;
and then they sung and laughed, and sung
again. in very mirth and mischief
son, to the emerald of the ocean, on"
and away they sped, that merry crew,
borne on great dophins' backs-on to that
spot which, with truth, they styled the en-
nrol1 81 Al, iclonI cNanly
of earth an oasis Of beauty in that great
desert Of the waters Tall pines grew from
the messy turf, which seemed but floating
in the clear green deep-tall pines of mel
ancholy form. and moulding, looking as
though they were the tenements of disem-
bodied spirits imprisoned there-so the
mind would Suggestion some dim error of
the past.
Thither the water spirits fed-thither,
to hold their festival; and their songs and
gIeesome mirth rang in wild music over
the broad expanse of ocean.
But one being, and she the lovelieSt of
them all, rested, so sad and silent, no
melody springing from her harp, no mirth
dwelling on her ruby lps-her eyes cast
down, and pearly tears imprisoning the
heavy lashes to her cheek her hair, even
her hair seemed to hang in sadness, and
shroud in gloom the beauty Of her fairy
loneliness.
"Eola"-and the gay sisters clustered
round her, and linked their arms, and dane
ed, she in the midst, like pure marble.
"Eola, ever, ever sad; come Join with
rs, and cast off this dull garb of grief,
which better fits the stolid children of NOR
tality than oceans fairy daughters"
Then Eola unused, and unused, and then
repeated their light words again-repeated
them as dreaming Of their import, forgetful
Of Their utterer.
Stold children of mortality" she said,
can those be dull whose outward form en-
shrines the precious diamond OF a soul
the gem which sparkles through the whole
tenor OF the lifeY-a never-dying, never
ending Soul-a spirit reaching through all
space and time! O blessed fate to be
more than mere bubble-more than a
thing of foam, breath, vapor r
And now she stood alone, for her CAV
companions, wearied of her mood. had
left her. Then balmy air spread round
her, waving her golden tresses, lifting them
from her snowy skin; and looking, she saw
descending on his outstretched pinons the
radiant form Of one of the great spirits of
the air.
Eola,' he said, as alighting he stood be-
s s her" EOla, to Heavens great dome
NY words have fed, betokening high,
spring dream in thy poor, perishable,
. JlndiesS form. Speak now, and say why
suOQldst thou wish to be more than thy
say companions, or pine for ought more