Has she married a Hidalgo? From an afternoon siesta, J. F. Waller. THE THREE BELLS. This poem refers to the well known rescue of the crew of an American vessel sinking in mid-ocean, by Captain Leighton, of the English ship Three Bells. Unable to take them off, in the night and the storm, he stayed by them until morning, shouting to them from time to time through his trumpet, "Never fear, hold on; I'll stand by you!" Beneath the low-hung night cloud The good ship settled slowly, Over the awful ocean Her signal guns pealed out; From the horror round about? A voice came down the wild wind,— Hour after hour crept slowly, Tossed up and down the ship-lights,- And ship to ship made signals; And the captain from her taffrail Sent down his hopeful cry; "Take heart! hold on!" he shouted, "The Three Bells shall stand by!" All night across the waters The tossing lights shone clear; And when the dreary watches Of storm and darkness passed, Just as the wreck lurched under, All souls were saved at last. Sail on, Three Bells, forever, Type of the Love eternal, As tossing through our darkness John G. Whittier. THE LAUNCHING OF THE SHIP. "Build me straight, O worthy Master! Stanch and strong, a goodly vessel, That shall laugh at all disaster, And with wave and whirlwind wrestle!" Day by day the vessel grew, With timbers fashioned strong and true, Loomed aloft the shadowy hulk! And around it columns of smoke, upwreathing, Rose from the boiling, bubbling, seething Caldron, that glowed, And overflowed With the black tar, heated for the sheathing. And amid the clamors Of clattering hammers, He who listened heard now and then "Build me straight, O worthy Master, Stanch and strong, a goodly vessel, That shall laugh at all disaster, And with wave and whirlwind wrestle!" All is finished! and at length Has come the bridal day Of beauty and of strength. To-day the vessel shall be launched! And o'er the bay, Slowly, in all his splendors dight, The great Sun rises to behold the sight. The Ocean old, Centuries old, Strong as youth, and as uncontrolled, Up and down the sands of gold. His beating heart is not at rest; With ceaseless flow, His beard of snow Heaves with the heaving of his breast. He waits impatient for his bride. There she stands, With her foot upon the sands! Decked with flags and streamers gay, In honor of her marriage day, Her snow-white signals, fluttering, blending, Round her like a veil descending, Ready to be The bride of the gray old Sea. Then the Master, With a gesture of command, Waved his hand: And at the word, Loud and sudden there was heard, The sound of hammers, blow on blow, She starts-she moves--she seems to feel And, spurning with her foot the ground, She leaps into the ocean's arms! There rose a shout, prolonged and loud, How beautiful she is! how fair She lies within those arms, that press Through wind and wave, right onward steer! Sail forth into the sea of life, Thou, too, sail on, O ship of State! With all its hopes of future years, Were shaped the anchors of thy hope. Fear not each sudden sound and shock; Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee; Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith triumphant o'er our fears, Are all with thee-are all with thee! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. |