Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/446

 430 D. BETHUNE DUFFIELD. [1840-50. He will still respect the story Of a mother's earthly love. For it seems man's first contrition, Prompting to the heavenly birth, Oft matures to full fruition. Thro' the mother's prayers on earth. Then let earth in grateful chorus Chant the mother-love she's known, Glad that God's own child before us Bore its fragrance to His throne. THE SOUNDING SEA. A MAIDEN sat on the rock-piled beach, All pensively, all pensively. And hymned her fading girlhood's thoughts In the ears of the sounding sea, The sounding sea. My life is breaking from youth's spell Full rapidly, full rapidly, And soon my bark must launch and sail O'er the waves of this sounding sea, This sounding sea ! And who with fearless heart will come To pilot me, to pilot me ? Who shield me from that tempest's wrath Which ofttimes smites the sounding sea, The sounding sea ! What star shall shine along my way ? Who'll answer me ? who'll answer me ? What harbor shall my anchor hold, If safe I pass this sounding sea ? This sounding sea ! Frail barks have carried others o'er. Then why not me ? say, why not me ? Sure there's a pilot and a breeze To bear me o'er this sounding sea? This soundina; sea ! Her gentle words on ocean's ear Fell silently, all silently — But the maiden had no answer back, Save the sobs of the sounding sea, The soundinsr sea ! A SABBATH SUNSET PRAYER. 'Tis Sabbath eve — the sun in slow decline Behind the clouds his banner bright has furled, And lofty trees in lengthening shadows read Their solemn lesson to a pensive world. Above the clover-blossoms of the field, Like aged men who with their chilch-en dwell. The dandelions with their silvery heads Repeat the story that the shadows tell. A sad-voiced bird from out the maple's boughs, Full gemmed and dripping with the re- cent shower, Sends forth his plaintive note, and seems to sing A lay well suited to the tranquil hour. The neighing steed upon the distant hill, Now lifts his head, and waits his mas- ter's call. While from the meadow and the tangled wood. The lowing cattle seek the home-roofed stall. The chirping swallows round the chimney top. In tiiry circlings drop into their nest, And 'neath the night-bird's soothing lullaby Tired nature calmly lays her head to rest.