The morning call., 1891-01-18
GEMS In VERSE.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL
THE LADY OF THE WRECK.

| ~>fLEAR and bright was the liquid depth,
A Where beautiful Brazilian bark,
q 4 IN the bosom of grim Old ocean slept
~ With the shades beneath it green and dar
| Two divers stood on the ruined deck
While the tropic sunbeams overhead
| On the princey form of the silent wreck
Their tints of dazzling beauty shed.
| Halt embedded in yellow sand
And crumbIing coral the vessel lay.
While halo OF rainbow color spanned
The broken toy of the breakers play.
| The divers halted moment there,
To gaze on the strange and lovely scene;
| Before them the vessel weirdly fair.
Around them the waters, crystal sheen.
| Never, in all their strange career
Had they made their dangerous, steep descent
To 4 sea so beautiful, bright and Gear,
Where the vessel lay, all torn and rent.
| AS they stood entranced comrade approached.
And reckoning, led the way before,
Where the clear, bright waters on all en- croache
TIL they halted before the cabin door.
| Slightly aiar it stood; at their touch.
Swinging back, to their eyes disclosed
| sight that held each enchanted, such
Was the heavenly vision that there reposed.
The heavy mahogany furniture stood,
Each piece in It's appointed place,
Unmoved by the strong ntrudng flood
That pressed its way into every space
In the upper berth of the cabin. lay
fair young lady, as if she slept;
From Eer brow the DARK hair swept away,
Like seaweed strands in the gistening depth.
Round her gayly hued wrap was flung
Heavily, careesSly. as in mirth;
Ana one little jeweed hand WAS hung
over the side of the upper berth.
over her beautiful, oval face,
Perfect, in wOmanhoods early dawn,
And the dark brOw's peaceful pensiye grace,
Was left no sign that life was gone.
Dreamiy, the closed lids reposed
Their silken fringe on the rounded check;
Scarce had one started, had they Enclosed,
And the chtldlike lips have moved to speak.
And the crimson curtain drawn aside,
The rings of its silver rod below,
As If the fair vision 10th to hide.
Cast into the berth its roseate glow.
Over two months had she sluinbered there
By taat sea water clear anu cold embamed.
Yet 1t seemed that the life OF that temple fair
was only that morn by deaths angel Gained.
The divers gazed on the scene impressed
with Its solemn beauty then went their way,
Softly, as not to DISTURB her rest
For death seemed robbed OF half his prey.
They were rude. unscrupulous, fearless men,
These daring wrestlers, who challenge the deep
In CHASTITY scenes had they often been.
Where skeleton sentines vigil keep.
They plundered the beautiful bark, nor spake,
Embedded in coral anI yellow sand,
But not Que among them approached to take
The sparkling rings from the little hand.
In few brief days her lover sought
The deep sea grave of his promised bride,
Their anchor they cast at the self-same spot
In the divers armOr he braved the tide.
NJ
Through tho crystal waters he saw the wreck
Lit up with Its dazzling tints as before;
He passed Ger the ruined, sand-strewn deck,
And followed the guide to the cabin door.
And there on her peaceful couch behed
His promised bride, In her watery tomb;
All! who can guess what emotions swelled
His heart, ne stood Ia that sea-llt roomt
And they left her there, 1t were better SO,
sweetly to sleep in that upper berth,
In the crimson curtains rosea tie glow.
Too fair for the dread decay of earth.
With her long, dark hair on the wave afost,
Like seawced strands on the waters flung,
Or ciiagIng close to her fair, white throat,
Ana one little hand DER her high couch hung.
Then close the door gently disturb her not
And softly pass 'er tue ruined deck:
No evil profanes the enchanted spot,
Where sleepeth the lady Of the wreck
MARTHA LAvINIA HOFFMAN.
U1iGh January, 1891.