Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 9.djvu/198

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��OgiDujnit Fishing Fleet.

��OCUNQUIT FISHING FLEET.

��WILLIAM HALE.

��I SEE the fishing boats put out Each morn ujion the sea,

And from my early window watch Them floating far and free.

Ere the first flush of day appears, While stars are in the sky.

Out steal the boats all silently, And to their moorings hie.

��By heart and rote I know each boat, Name each familiar friend ;

And out to each, in earnest speech, A hearty God-speed send.

To each familiar form I turn,

A-bending o'er the bay ; And ask of Him who made the sea,

To guide them in his way.

��While rest their wives and little ones,

And all the world's asleep, These hardy fishers launch their boats.

And sail forth on the deep.

��O friends of mine, O fishers free,

Sail on, and nobly on. Until the voyage of life be o'er.

And the safe harbor won.

��To feed the little hungry mouths,

To cover little feet, Each day, when wind and wave allow,

Toils hard the fishing fleet.

��Sail on, and learn to prize full weU

The joys of simple life ; Let not the great world beat for you

Her noisy wings of strife.

��To keep their wives and little ones. And their snug homes maintain.

They draw a well-earned livelihood From the begrudging main.

��Sail on, and ever fearless on, The billows bravely breast ;

Nor let the hollow world entice You from your port of rest.

��A league or more out from the shore. They fish with trawl and line;

With cunning hand draw deftly in The trophies of the brine.

��Sail on, and lean your trusting hearts

Upon God's ocean wide ; And learn to prize his love more thaa

The great round world beside.

��I see them stealing here and there. In distance small and slow;

And with my glass I find each one As m and out they go.

��O friends of mine, O sailors strong,

O hearts that beat so true ; Ye cannot know these earnest thoughts

That go out after you.

��I know each boat, I find them all. And count them one by one ;

Dark spots upon the waters bright. Like motes upon the sun.

��Good friends, ye cannot hear this song,

Nor feel this heart of mine. That warm and loving beats for you

Far out upon the brine.

��But heart shall read each heart one day, And friend with friend shall meet.

Peace be with ye, O sailors of Ogunquit, Ogunquit fishing fleet!

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