Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-03-10


calls me forth on the bosom OF that
wondrous deep spread out before us. II
is but trail bark in which venture, yet
in skillful hands, guided by a cool brain,
by man Of nerve, y Is safer
than an iron-clad man-ofwar. My heart
is left with thee to guard l 20 forth to
toll for her love If the ds.y be calm,
early will return, and thine shall be the
lips to welcome the eye tc smile upon
me - thine the heart IN which I'll rest
when finished are the weary labors OF the
day. Should storms arise - my voyage
be delayed the tempest oyertake and
death dispute my passage back to thee,
in this little window, looking out upon
the fathomless deep, high above the |
homes of others, place light and let it
burn so long as the night and the tempest
snail last. / will watch. Piercing the
gloom will it reach me. High will
look =. surely will | see it - with brave
heart, a will of iron and muscle of steel,
will fix my eye upon this my star, and
rowing to reach my heart, will battle on
ttll the light be reached and the sentinel
leave on thy lips to guard thy earnest
heart shall let me in. Good bye my
darling one
Forth went the bold fisherman. The
day was clear, the ocean waves sang along
the shors, sported on the white sands
kissed the coyish shells, reached up 10
caress the dropping branches OF rock,
bound tree-played hide and seek around
the corners of jutting rocks, or rolled
away in the little cayerns, where away
from the deep blue billows left behind they
could not tell each other stories OF the
past and join hopes for the future
Out upon the deep went the fisherman.
Out and away. The day rolled itself up
to Join the army of the past The loved
one on the hill was happy and sang the
hours away, for her heart was light and
her faith perfect. The duties OF. the
home were done. The lamp was made
ready. With the noon came a bugle call
from the deep, calling the truant waves
hack 10 their lines. The shells were left
alone. The little caverns were deserted.
The hardy boughs in rocky clefts were
left trembling in the wind. The waves
gathered in slrength--the sky was over
cast by clouds darker than funeral pail
the bugle blast became hurricane
the sun was lost to view--night came on
and the brave fisherman was far at sea,
battling for life and love, his bark heavy
with freight for the loved one onthe
cliff 90 lal
{" A halt in the pindoic 4 -. rssr
Steady Now fisherman, has your
star shone through the clouds, There is
a Igbt in the window God bless the one
who sits and trims the little lamp--her
eyes now downcast-now peering out to
pierce the gloom, The window is small
but the lamp ia bright behind it, and from
its intensity reaches far out over the
clenched pillows God bless the one VINO
has faith! The seconds roll into minutes
the minutes are strung on the voice OF
the blast and form links reaching down
into the fathomless we'll He will come
He will see the light. He will make for
its brightness. The storm howls and
beats against the fishers cot The night
has grown fearfully dark. The fury OF
the ocean is aroused Look yonder
Far out from the cliff Now rising high
on the crest-now lost in the bilIow
Ali Once again in sight Steadily,
boldly, fearlessly onward to the hight IN
the window How it neryes--now it
guides-how it gives strength when
needed. Pail away bold man Every
dip of the oar brightens the light Every
wave ridden over is a victory. Every
trough of the sea you come out from is
conquest. There is a spirit guiding and
protecting Pull away. The Tight is
here and there-but steady,
and each moment growing brighter as
the waves are conquered. Nearer, near
er yet nearer
The bark is moored-the freight Sc
eurel-the narrow path has been climbed
the door opens from without.
Still by the window Peering into
the darkness, trusting, for faith is of God,
still tending the light in the window.
The bowling blast goes by. The door
opens. Oh, God in Heaven! bless the
watcher by the window-a liie is saved
Still the light burns. The window is
closed. 1t is not late. The fire. burns
brightly on the hearth. The sentinel on
the lips has been relieved Safe in each
Others s arms are the watcher and wrestler
with death. The storm may howl now
the bark is moored The night may be
dark, but the cot on the hill is warm and
dOubly lighted
There is revel in the capitol-manse
there is wilder revel OF joy in the
united heart Of those on the hill. That
cot is more of mansion than the world
dreams of The watcher and the rover
are rewarded-their hearts are together,
their labor is done.
How clear the morn The ocean hes
asleep far below, resting from the conflict
OF Yesterday - the battle is won the
sunbeams play around the door, and rest
on the window sill where so lately sat the
lamp See yonder Arm in arm wan,
dering along the shore are the heroes OF
the night, happy and rewarded. Boldly
the fisherman Enthusiastically he leads
the way - springing from rock TO rock
with her he loves in his arms, resting on
his heat, secure in his strength, he
climbs high up the mountain sides-they
rest on messy ledges ami with full hearts
look back to the light in the window
Years dropped from the band Of God
into the abyss of time. The treaeherous
ocean never again lured the bold
man from his home, for the taking of
the day when storms shook themselves
out around him were enough for lie
time. His boat was saved, for
which he toiled. The story Of strength
became known. By cottage fires and
by castle board he was spoken of 20
called at last to help guide the ship Of
state over reefs and billows But the