At last they spied within their reach Bess, with her sweet face flushed and fair. Rolling in from the briny deep, Nearer, nearer, the great waves creep, Higher, higher, upon the sands, The sun went down, 'mid clouds of gold; A storm comes on, with flash and roar, The home-bound vessel, "Sea-bird," lies The mate comes up to where he stands, "Nought but their safety will suffice! They must be saved!" the captain cries. "By every thought that's just and right, By lips I hoped to kiss to-night, I'll peril vessel, life, and men, And God will not forsake us then." With anxious faces, one and all, Each man responded to the call; And when at last, through driving storm, The captain started, with a groan : "My God is good, they are my own!" ROSA HARTWICK THORPE (Author of "Curfew Shall Not Ring To-night"). TWO. WE two will stand in the shadow here, She comes! she comes! The happy bells And the pearls that gleam on her bosom's snow; But rarer the grace of her royal mien, Her hair's fine gold, and her cheek's young glow. Dainty and fair as a folded rose, Fresh as a violet dewy sweet, Chaste as a lily, she hardly knows That there are rough paths for other feet. For Love hath shielded her; Honor kept And Evil out from her sight hath crept, Now in her perfect womanhood, In all the wealth of her matchless charms, Lovely and beautiful, pure and good, She yields herself to her lover's arms. Hark! how the jubilant voices ring! Lo! as we stand in the shadow here, While far above us the gay bells swing, I catch the gleam of a happy tear! The pageant is over. Come with me In the dim church porch an hour ago A darker picture for you and me. No need to seek for the shadow here, There are shadows lurking everywhere; These streets in the brightest days are drear, And black as the blackness of despair. But this is the house. Take heed, my friend, The stairs are rotten, the way is dim; And up the flights, as we still ascend, Creep, stealthily, phantoms dark and grim. Enter this chamber. Day by day, Alone in this chill and ghostly room, No gleam of a wedding-ring you see; There's nothing to tell. You know the taleGod help her now in her misery! I dare not judge her. I only know It brought all blessings its hands could bear! I only know that to one it came Laden with honor and joy and peace; Its gifts to the other were woe and shame, And a burning pain that shall never cease. I only know that the soul of one Has been a pearl in a golden case; That of the other a pebble thrown Idly down in a wayside place, Where all day long strange footsteps trod, And the bold, bright sun drank up the dew! Yet both were women. O righteous God, Thou only canst judge between the two! THE COURT OF BERLIN. KING Frederick, of Prussia, grew nervous and ill "Ho, miller!" cried he, "what sum shall you take It angers my brain and it keeps me awake." "But you must," said the king, in a passion for once. "Gods! this to my face? Ye are daft, or a dunce- "Ay, true, my good sire, if such be your mood," Then answered the man with a grin; "But never you'll move it the tenth of a rood As long as a court 's in Berlin." "Good, good," said the king, -for the answer was grand, As opposing the Law to the Crown, "We bow to the court, and the mill shall stand, Frankfort Yeoman. |