The lad had a face bright and sunny, An' says he in a voice dear and pretty, My step-father brought me aboard, And hid me away down the stairs there; "And he told me the big ship would take me And he said, 'Now the Lord is your father, "It's a lie," says the mate: "not your father, ""Twarn't us," growled the tars as stood round 'em. "Oh, my eyes!" says another bronzed seaman "Belay!" says the mate: "shut your mouth, man! I'll sail this ere craft, bet your life, An' I'll fit the lie on to you somehow, Then a-knitting his black brows with anger, An', says he, "P'r'aps to-morrow'll change you- I took him some dinner, be sure, mates,- The mate brings him up from his cage. An' he plants him before us amidships, An' he says, through his teeth, mad with passion, "Tell the truth, lad, and then I'll forgive you; But the truth I will have. Speak it out. It wasn't your father as brought you, But some of these men here about." Then that pair o' blue eyes, bright and winning, An', says he, "Sir, I've told you the truth." 'Twarn't no use; the mate didn't believe him, There! you never see such a sight, mates, Eight minutes went by all in silence. Says the mate then, "Speak, lad: say your say.” I'm a rough and hard old tarpa'lin But the salt water sprung to my eyes, lads, The mate kind o' trembled an' shivered, An' the little chap kneels on the deck there, And soft come the first words, "Our Father," Every bit of that prayer, mates, he goes through, And for all the bright gold of the Indies, I wouldn't ha' heard it again. And, says he, when he finished, uprising Off his feet was that lad sudden lifted, And clasped to the mate's rugged breast ; If the ship hadn't been a good sailer, All had gone to Old Davy; for all, lads, Like a man, says the mate, " God forgive me, It's myself as had ought to be strung up, "You believe me then?" said the youngster. An' p'r'aps, mates, he wasn't thought much on An' if that little chap ain't a model, OUR OWN.-MARGARET E. SANGSTER. If I had known in the morning How wearily all the day The words unkind Would trouble my mind I said when you went away, With look and tone We might never take back again. DDDD* For though in the quiet evening That never for me The pain of the heart should cease. For harsh words spoken, That sorrow can ne'er set right. We have careful thoughts for the stranger, The bitter tone, 66 Though we love our own" the best. "Twere a cruel fate, Were the night too late To undo the work of morn. PASSING UNDER THE ROD.-MARY S. B. DANA. I saw a young bride, in her beauty and pride, And the bright flush of joy mantled high on her cheek, And with woman's devotion she laid her fond heart And she anchor'd her hopes to this perishing earth, But I saw when those heartstrings were bleeding and torn, She had changed her white robes for the sables of grief, But the Healer was there, pouring balm on her heart, And he strengthen'd the chain he had broken in twain, There had whisper'd a voice-'twas the voice of her God, "I love thee—I love thee-pass under the rod!” I saw a young mother in tenderness bend O'er the couch of her slumbering boy, And she kiss'd the soft lips as they murmur'd her name, Oh, sweet as the rose-bud encircled with dew, So fresh and so bright to that mother he seem'd, But I saw when she gazed on the same lovely form, But paler and colder her beautiful boy, But the Healer was there who had stricken her heart To allure her to heaven he has placed it on high, And the mourner will sweetly obey: There had whisper'd a voice-'twas the voice of her God, "I love thee-I love thee-pass under the rod!" I saw a fond brother, with glances of love, And she hung on his arm, and breathed soft in his ear, Oh, he loved the sweet tones of her silvery voice, And he twined his arms round her delicate form, As she sat in the eve on his knee. But I saw when he gazed on her death-stricken face, And he clasped his arms round an icy-cold form, But the Healer was there, and he said to him thus, And he gave to his arms still another fair girl, There had whisper'd a voice-'twas the voice of his God, "I love thee-I love thee-pass under the rod!" I saw too a father and mother who lean'd On the arms of a dear gifted son, And the star in the future grew bright to their gaze, And the fast-coming evening of life promised fair, And the starlight of love glimmered bright at the end, And I saw them again, bending low o'er the grave, But the Healer was there, and his arms were around, And he showed them a star in the bright upper world, "Twas their star shining brilliantly there! They had each heard a voice-'twas the voice of their God, "I love thee-I love thee-pass under the rod!" |