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ODE TO THE MOON.

135

Of her wild hills, still turn my eyes to thee;
And then perhaps lie down in solemn rest,
With nought but thy pale beams upon my breast.

Let it be so indeed!

Earth hath her peace beneath the trampled stone;

And let me perish where no heart shall bleed, And nought, save passing winds, shall make my moan; No tears, save night's to wash my humble shrine, And watching o'er me, no pale face but thine.

NIGHT.

BY JONES VERY.

I THANK thee, Father, that the night is near
When I this conscious being may resign;
Whose only task thy words of love to hear,
And in thy acts to find each act of mine;
A task too great to give a child like me,
The myriad-handed labors of the day,
Too many for my closing eyes to see,
Thy words too frequent for my tongue to say;
Yet when thou seest me burthened by thy love,
Each other gift more lovely then appears,

For dark-robed night comes hovering from above,
And all thine other gifts to me endears;

And while within her darkened couch I sleep,

Thine eyes untired above will constant vigils keep.

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138

ONLY ONE NIGHT AT SEA.

The pledge has been received,
The vessel leaves the shore,
Bearing the beautiful and brave,
Who ne'er shall greet us more;
And every heart beats high,

As bounding o'er the wave,

The gallant bark moves on

To bear them to their grave.

The merry beams of day

Before the darkness flee,

And gloomy night comes slowly on,
That "only night at sea :"
The watch upon the deck,
Their weary vigils keep,

And countless stars look down
In beauty o'er the deep.

Within that stately boat

The prattler's voice is still,
And beauty's lovely form is there,
Unheeding of the ill;

And manhood's vigorous mind

Is wrapped in deep repose,

And sorrow's victim lies

Forgetful of his woes.

ONLY ONE NIGHT AT SEA.

139

But hark! that fearful sound,

That wild, appalling cry,

That wakes the sleepers from their dreams,

And rouses them-to die:

Ah, who shall tell the hopes
That rose, so soon to flee;
The good resolves destroyed
By that "
one night at sea?"

That hour hath passed away,

The morning's beams are bright,
As if they met no record there,
Of that all-fearful night;
But many souls have fled

To far eternity,

And many hearts been wrecked

In that "one night at sea."

Great God! whose hand hath launched
Our boat upon life's sea,
And given us as a pilot there,
A spirit bold and free,
So guide us with thy love,

That our frail bark may be,
Mid waves of doubt and fear,

"Only one night at sea."

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