THE SPIDER'S SONG. What shall we do?—where must we go?' Nor e'er by passion be misled Jack by himself was punished. THE SPIDER'S SONG. 1. Look upon my web so fine, See how threads with threads entwine; Breathe upon it, all is gone. Thus within the darkest place Creative Wisdom thou mayest trace; Feeble though the insect be, Allah speaks through that to thee. 2. As within the moonbeam I, God in glory sits on high, Sits where countless planets roll, And from thence controls the whole : There, with threads of thousand dyes, 89 'SWEET Ellen More,' said I, 'come forth Beneath the sunny sky; Why stand you musing all alone, With such an anxious eye? What is it, child, that aileth you?' And thus she made reply: 2. 'The fields are green, the skies are bright, The leaves are on the tree, And 'mong the sweet flowers of the thyme Far flies the honey-bee; And the lark hath sung since morning prime, And merrily singeth he. ELLEN MORE. 3. 'Yet not for this shall I go forth There's not a bird that singeth now 4. 'And why?' said I; 'what is there here Beside your cottage-door, To make a merry girl like you Thus idly stand to pore? There is a mystery in this thing— 5. The fair girl looked into my face, Then heaved a quiet sigh; Again she made reply: 6. 'Three years ago, unknown to us, And a woful house were we. 91 7. 'That winter was a weary time, A long dark time of woe; For we knew not in what ship he sailed, And vainly sought to know; And day and night the loud, wild winds Seemed evermore to blow. 8. 'My mother lay upon her bed, Her spirit sorely tossed With dismal thoughts of storm and wreck Upon some savage coast; But morn and eve we prayed to Heaven That he might not be lost. 9. 'And when the pleasant spring came on And fields again were green, He sent a letter full of news, Of the wonders he had seen; Praying us to think him dutiful 10. 'The tidings that came next were from A sailor old and gray, In the harbour at Bombay; But he said my brother pined for home, And wished he were away. ELLEN MORE. 11. 'Again he wrote a letter long, And soon, and very soon, he said, 12. 'I watched and watched, but I knew not then It would be all in vain ; For very sick he lay the while, Ah, me! I fear my brother dear 13. 'And now I watch-for we have heard That he is on his way, And the letter said, in very truth, He would be here to-day. Oh! there's no bird that singeth now Could tempt me hence away! 14. That self-same eve I wandered down Unto the busy strand, Just as a little boat came in With people to the land; And 'mongst them was a sailor-boy 93 |