m

5. Oh, wild was the anguish that swept through her breast,
(PL) As the long, frantic kiss on his pale lips she press'd!
And felt the vain search of his soft, pleading eye,
As it strove to meet hers ere the fair boy could die.
"I see you not, mother, for darkness and night
Are hiding your dear loving face from my sight-
But I hear your low sobbings,-dear mother, good-by,
The angels are ready to bear me on high!

I will wait for you there, but, oh, tarry not long,
Lest grief at your absence should sadden my song!"
He ceased, and his hands meekly clasp'd on his breast,
While his sweet face sank down on its pillow of rest,
Then, closing his eyes, now all rayless and dim,
Went up with the angels that waited for him!

EXERCISE XXXVII.

THE LIFE-VOYAGE.

1. Once in the olden time there dwelt,
Beside the sounding sea,

FRANCES 8. OSGOOD.

A little maid, her garb was coarse,
Her spirit pure and free.

2. Her parents were a humble twain,
And poor as poor could be;
Yet gayly sang the guileless child,
Beside the sounding sea.

3. The hut was bare, and scant the fare,
And hard her little bed;

But she was rich! A single gem
Its beauty round her shed.

4. She walk'd in light!-'twas all her wealth-
That pearl, whose lustrous glow

Made her white forehead dazzling fair,
And pure as sunlit snow.

5. Her parents died! With tears she cried, "God will my father be !"

Then launched alone her shallop light,
And bravely put to sea.

6. The sail she set was virgin-white,
As inmost lily leaf,

And angels whisper'd her from heaven,
To loose it, or to reef.

7. And ever on the dancing prow
One glorious brilliant burn'd,

By whose clear ray she read her way,
And every danger learn'd:

8. For she had hung her treasure there,
Her heaven-illumined pearl!
And so she steer'd her lonely bark,
That fair and guileless girl!

9. The wind was fresh, the sails were free, (") High dash'd the diamond spray, And, merrily leaping o'er the sea, The light skiff left the bay!

10. But soon false, evil spirits came,
(sl.) And strove, with costly lure,
To bribe her maiden heart to shame,
And win her jewel pure.

11. They swarmed around the fragile boat,
They brought her diamonds rare,

To glisten on her graceful throat,
And bind her flowing hair!

12. They brought her gold from Afric-land,
And from the sea-king's throne

They pilfer'd gems, to grace her hand.
And clasp her virgin zone.

13. But still she shook the silken curl
Back from her beaming eyes,
And cried, "I bear my spotless pearl
Home, home to yonder skies!

14. "Now shame ye not your ocean gems
And Eastern gold to show?
Behold! how mine outburns them all!
God's smile is in its glow !"

15. Fair blows the wind, the sail swells free,
(2) High shoots the diamond spray,
And merrily o'er the murmuring sea
The light boat leaps away!

16. They swarm'd around the fragile bark,
They strove with costlier lure,

To bribe her maiden heart to shame,
And win her jewel pure.

17. "We bring thee rank,-we bring thee powerWe bring thee pleasures free,

No empress, in her silk-hung bower,
May queen her realm like thee!

18. "Now, yield us up the one white pearl!
'Tis but a star whose ray
Will fail thee, rash, devoted girl,
When tempests cloud thy way."

19. But still she smiled a loftier smile,
And raised her frank, bright eyes,

And cried," I bear my vestal star (<) Home, home to yonder skies !"

20. The wind is fresh-the sail swells free(") High shoots the diamond spray! And merrily o'er the moaning sea The light boat leaps away!

21. Suddenly, stillness broods around,
(l.) A stillness as of death,

Above, below-no motion, sound!
Hardly a struggling breath!

22. Then wild and fierce the tempest came, The dark wind-demons clash'd

()

Their weapons swift-the air was flame!
The waves in madness dash'd!

23. They swarm'd around the tossing boat"Wilt yield thy jewel nów?

Look! look! already drenched in spray,
It trembles at the prow.

24. "Be ours the gem! and, safely launched Upon a summer sea,

Where never cloud may frown in heaven,
Thy pinnace light shall be !”

25. But still she smiled a fearless smile, And raised her trusting eyes,

And cried, "I bear my talisman (<) Home, home to yonder skies!"

26. And safe through all that blinding storm The true bark floated on,

And soft its pearl-illumined prow
Through all the tumult shone!

27. An angel, guided through the clouds
By that most precious light,
Flew down the fairy helm to take,
And steer the boat aright.

28. Then died the storm upon the sea! High dash'd the diamond spray, (") And merrily leaping light and free, The shallop sail'd away.

29. And meekly, when at eve her bark
Its destined port had found,

She moor'd it by the mellow spark
Her jewel shed around!

30. Would'st know the name the maiden wore?
"Twas Innocence-like thine !

Would'st know the pearl she nobly bore?
'Twas Trùth-a gem divine!

31. Thou hast the jewel-keep it bright,
Undimmed by mortal fear,

And bathe each stain upon its light
With Grief's repentant tear!

32. Still shrink from falsehood's fairest guise,
By flattery unbeguiled;

Still let thine heart speak from thine eyes,
My pure and simple child!

QUESTIONS.-1. How, according to the notation marks, should the 20th, 21st, and 22d verses be read? 2. Why the rising inflection on now, 23d stanza? 3. What rule for the inflections, as marked in the 30th stanza?