Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-10-23
MISCELLANEOUS,
BY Ocean Side.
DY "A. W. HAWKS.
LEro,n The BnltImoronn. |

lfrom The BOltimOrc0n.
The other day, for the first time, /
stood by the ocean. / watched the
living, breathing lips rush in mad
haste pantingly to kiss the shore. l
heard not ''sullen roar ofocean, but
the passionate lipmusic of its oft-re-
peated kisses. The sun, aball of fire.
was just dipping slowly beneath the
oceans far-off horizon. And from
out the blushing ocean came won
drous music. The music of q life
time, of all life was in its song. The
wall of the newborn babe, the hiss
ing breath of the dying man. The
mother voice, soft, sweet and low,
chanting the evening hymn. The
sound of mothers prayer and the
angels amen. The poet singing to
the music of the waves: "There's a
Wilderness in Gods mercy like the
Wilderness of the sea- .--s -,,s..
The ocean sang of war. The glad
triumphant shout Of the victor riding
resistIessly over the pale faces of the
fallen foe. The sharp, quick pierc-
ing cry of the victim, as the steel en-
ters the very soul. The uplifted
voice of the mourning widow, the cry
of orphaned children. The horrid
splash of blood, the whittier of the
cleaYing sabre, the breaking of bono,
the rain beating the upturned; faces
of the dead. The shriIl, ear-piercing
fife, the soul-stiTring drum, the blare
of trumphcts, the rustlc'of banners,
the Changing of sabres, the thunder
of many horses' feet. The rattle of
musketry, the whiz of the leadcn hail, /,
the roar of the loud-mouthed cannon.
From far off the faint echo swift
fleeing feet touching the earth ever
so softly. But the ear of ocean
catches the echo Of the faintest
breath, The sound of mother-carth
drinking thiFstily in the blood of her
children.
The ocean sang of peace. The
glad, early song of birds, the twitter
of the sparrow, the whistle ofthe
canary, the melody of the mocktng
bird, the voice of the nightingale, the
moan of the dove. The merry voices
of children, in the streets, in the fields,
the glad wave of chfldhood's laughter
THAT belts the earth. The voice of
the girl singing her first heart-song.
The voice of the young man answer
ing in the morning time of life. The
sound Of music by night; the splash
ing of waves upon the boats side /;
the soft, low, whispered "Good-bye,
until tomorrow" The voices of
many Suilets dropping their words
like pearls to waiting Romeos The
golden-tongued wedding bel1spga1ing
ever so gladly, dropping to earth and
soaring to Heaven. The mingled
voices of work-day life, the wife at
home, the song of the spinning wheel
the whisper of the needle, the Kissing
of the kettle, the song of singing lips.
The mans work-day song, the rythnic
melody of the pen, the ringing of
hammer upon anvil, the puff of huge
engines, the buzz of fsteel-teethed saws,
the click of the telegraph and the wind
music of the wires. Wondrously
beautiful and s6tll-moving is the echo
of the worlds Sabbath music held in
the lips Of the Ocean. The. solemn
ringing of church bells, the glad ho-
zannas of children, the choir of the
world praising God in the sanctuary,
the voice of uplifted prayer, the tones
of the home preacher. TIE rising, fall
ing, dying sway of the grand dox-
ology.
And over all, and above all, the
ocean holds, and forever repeats in
lovliest tones the words Of the Christ
calling, ever calling, to sin-stricken
men, I" Come unto BE all ye who labor
and are heavy laden, and 1 will give
you rest. % Forever and forever the
never-resting ocean sings this song
of rest. The words of the suffering
Christ, g Forgive forgive! ! they know
not what they do The voice of the
g1oriied Christ, speaking to the ocean
of human hearts by the fps of this
ocean: &c Peace-peace, be still. .
The voice of God, as the waves glide
back, listening to the g Thus far'' OF
Jehovah. ThsYoice of God upon the