The Columbus journal., 1897-08-25

" A~recKins vessel,
That tossed on giant
pillows, rode
A plaything of the storm.
Her white sails rent are streaming high
Against the frowning skies:
And where the deep goes whiriing oy
Her fallen banner lies.
She reels. she ~plunges. bounds. recedes.
And now her towering mast
Bows meekly down. like Bonded reeds,
Before the mighty blast.
Hark! hark!-a wall. a fearful cry
To Ian the strong winds bear:
In every tone is agony.
In every note despair!
Death hovers round that barQue OF doom.
He fingers for his prey:
And meath his feet q yawning tomb
The parting waves display.
They rear their foam-crests high: that
crowd
OF living men they crave
And shall they in their watery shroud
Enfold the good. the brave?
Oh. who shall snatch them from the
brink
Where ruins open wide?
rhe boldest landsmen shuddering shrink
40 stem the awful tlOc.
Far. far away upon the shore
A simple nader stands:
Snatched from q boat. q slender oar
i Lies in her folded hands.
S.ach rude breeze, as 1t hurries by.
Filings back her clustering hair:
While flashes from her earnest eye
4 hope that scorns despair.
MY father! shall that barque.'' she cries,
Go down in yonder sea?
In vain for aid those prayers arise?
1t must not, cannot be!
Unmoor the boat! away. awayl
I will not linger here:
This Is no season for delay,
No time for doubt and fear.
Il would be gone: my father, dare.
With me to succor fly,
To save yon helpless victims there.
To brave The flood or die?
A few brief moments. n each tongue
The choking wave shall hush:
And. where those cries and groans have
runS,
Overwhelming waters rush.
Heed. heed hat wall Of deep distress
To US the tempest bears:
ON. let us prize our lives the less
Perchance to rescue theirs!
Fear not for me: my hand Is strong.
MY heart is stronger still:
And God. to hom those waves belong,
Can Quell them at His will"
She ceased: her sire. inspired, unlashed
The boat. and seized the oar,
And fearless DER the pillows dashed.
TEat laved the Sheltering shore,
There stood an angel bright beside
The Made at the helm:
He stayed the flood. He soothed the tide.
Nor dare a wave o'erwhelm.
She GaZed upon the skies above,
The 1iehtnine's blazing path,
With holy faith and hope and love,
That awed the storm-god's wrath:
And safe they reached the sinking wreck.
Where raging tempest's blew.
And bore from OF her briny deck
Her pale. ~despairing crew.
Then swiftly through the breaking foam
The quivering boat scuds back.
And bears her burden safely home.
Though death is on the track.
Cnhurt by wind and storm and wave.
Upon the beaten strand,
The rescued from q watery grave
With loud thanksgiving stand.
How felt she then. that noble one,
Whose aid d~eliverance wrought,
And ere distinctions work was done.
The ark was safely brought.
Comparisons tears had ceased to flow.
Her beating heart was stille1:
A JOY as sweet as angels know
Her pure. young spirit filleG.
Days passed.: a glorious need of fame
Time to the maiden bore;
And thousands brCathed her hallowed
name
Cnheard. unknown before.
She cared not for the great worlds praise
Still Natures artless child;
And shrank from admiration's paze
A spirit undefiled.
But vain are wreathS 10 bind her brow
Or songs sweet tributes given:
The worlds applause she needs not now
Grace Darling is in heaven!
She hath reward-the robe. the crown.
The harp Of heavenly tone,
The smiles of God. the high renown
or those around the throne.
And while its rest her spirit takes
In that pure. blissful sphere.
Her deeds of noble daring makes
Her name immortal here.
The muse Of England's poets. fired.
Shall watt il DER her main.
And transatlantic bards. inspired.
Roll back the deathless strain.
Amanda II. Edmond.