POEMS BY MISS ELIZA JANE STEPHENS.
19
MURDOCK GILLIS.
Murdock Gillis rescued the crew of the schooner Avenger by swimming a long distance with the life-line through a boisterous sea in a blinding snow storm.
In one of winter's blinding storms,
While waves were topping wild and high,
A vessel grounded on a rock
And all on board it seemed must die.
While waves were topping wild and high,
A vessel grounded on a rock
And all on board it seemed must die.
Afar from shore and numbed with cold,
Each close the others' face could scan,
For tenor bated every breath,
And all were looking strangely wan.
Each close the others' face could scan,
For tenor bated every breath,
And all were looking strangely wan.
In vain they launched their only boat—
The waves seemed glad to show their power—
What wonder that their cheeks were blanched,
It was indeed a fearful hour.
The waves seemed glad to show their power—
What wonder that their cheeks were blanched,
It was indeed a fearful hour.
Then loud was heard the captain's call.
In spite of all the awful roar,
"Is there a man who dares to swim
And bear the life-line to the shore?"
In spite of all the awful roar,
"Is there a man who dares to swim
And bear the life-line to the shore?"
And quick an earnest voice replied—
"Aye! aye! sir, I will be the one;
Make fast the line, God granting strength
You need not fear, it shall be done."
"Aye! aye! sir, I will be the one;
Make fast the line, God granting strength
You need not fear, it shall be done."
An active, able man was he,
Well used upon the sea to ride;
A mighty wave swept him along,
And bore him to the mountain side.
Well used upon the sea to ride;
A mighty wave swept him along,
And bore him to the mountain side.
But lo! 'twas rock, so steep and bare,
That he no footing could obtain,
He labored bravely for awhile,
And then was drawn to ship again.
That he no footing could obtain,
He labored bravely for awhile,
And then was drawn to ship again.
But after rest, yet undismayed,
His work of peril tried once more;
His efforts met their just reward,
He made the life-line fast on shore.
His work of peril tried once more;
His efforts met their just reward,
He made the life-line fast on shore.
And then a stronger line he drew,
And made it more securely fast,
And all that seeming fated crow,
Were safely brought to shore at last.
And made it more securely fast,
And all that seeming fated crow,
Were safely brought to shore at last.
Ah, Gillis beats an honored name,
He acted well a noble part,
And while in life those friends remain,
He holds a place in every heart.
He acted well a noble part,
And while in life those friends remain,
He holds a place in every heart.
IN THE SPRINGTIME.
I heard a sound of music unmeasured float along,
In breezes from the mountain, and in the brooklets' song,
The merry laugh of childhood, the feathered war-biers' note,
United in an anthem as from one tuneful throat,
And questioning my heart I said, what voice like this can sing?
Its quickened pulses answered, it is the voice of Spring.
In breezes from the mountain, and in the brooklets' song,
The merry laugh of childhood, the feathered war-biers' note,
United in an anthem as from one tuneful throat,
And questioning my heart I said, what voice like this can sing?
Its quickened pulses answered, it is the voice of Spring.
Before me lay the river, its waters silver bright,
Around were grassy meadows in mellow golden light,
The forest trees were waving their branches high in air,
And beautiful the blossoms that clustered here and there,
I asked whence came this beauty pervading everything
And Nature sweetly answered, it is the smile of Spring.
Around were grassy meadows in mellow golden light,
The forest trees were waving their branches high in air,
And beautiful the blossoms that clustered here and there,
I asked whence came this beauty pervading everything
And Nature sweetly answered, it is the smile of Spring.
Below me in the valley beside the silent mill,
Dark evergreens were standing in winter vesture still,
But when the sunlight touched them they too were passing fair,
For e'en the smallest branches seemed hung with jewels rare,
And very much I wondered what such a change could bring
Till fancy quaintly whispered, the gentle tears of Spring.
Dark evergreens were standing in winter vesture still,
But when the sunlight touched them they too were passing fair,
For e'en the smallest branches seemed hung with jewels rare,
And very much I wondered what such a change could bring
Till fancy quaintly whispered, the gentle tears of Spring.
