THE STORMY PETREL (Procellaria Pelagica). 1. THIS is the bird that sweeps over the seaFearless, and rapid, and strong is he; He never forsakes the billowy roar To dwell in calm on the tranquil shore, Save when his mate, from the tempest's shocks, Protects her young in the splintered rocks. 2. Up and down! up and down! From the base of the wave to the billow's crown, A home, if such a place may be, For her who lives on the wide, wide sea, To warm her young, and teach them to spring 3. All over the ocean, far from land, Where the storm-king rises, dark and grand, The mariner2 sees the Petrel meet The fathomless3 waves with steady feet, And a tireless wing, and a dauntless1 breast, 4. O'er the deep! o'er the deep! Where the whale, and the shark, and the swordfish sleep: Outflying the blast and the driving rain, The Petrel telleth her tale-in vain ; For the mariner curseth the warning bird, Which bringeth him news of the storm unheard! Ah! thus does the prophet of good or ill Once more o'er the waves on thy stormy wing! 5. So, 'mid the contest and toil of life, My soul, when the billows of rage and strife Is shrouded by vapors of sombre hue— 1 LAIR, resting-place. 2 MAR'-I-NER, seaman; a sailor. 14 DÄUNT'-LESS, bold; fearless. 5 SHROUD'-ED, covered; concealed. 3 FATH'-OM-LESS, the depth of which can not 6 Soм'-BRE, dull; cloudy; gloomy. be measured. NOTE. The first, third, and fifth verses of the foregoing are by Park Benjamin, and the second and fourth by B. W. Proctor. The several changes in metre render it a difficult but useful reading exercise. 1. 2. LESSON XXXIV. TO A WATER-FOWL. WHITHER, midst falling dew, While glow the heavens with the last steps of day, Thy solitary way? Vainly the fowler's1 eye Might mark thy distant flight to do thee wrong, Thy figure floats along. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Seek'st thou the plashy2 brink There is a Power whose care Teaches thy way along that pathless coast— Lone wandering, but not lost. All day thy wings have fanned, At that far height, the cold, thin atmosphere; And soon that toil shall end; Soon shalt thou find a summer, home, and rest, Thou'rt gone! the abyss of heaven And shall not soon depart. He who, from zone to zone, Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, LESSON XXXV. WHAT IS THAT, MOTHER? 1. "WHAT is that, mother?" "The lark, my child; The morn has but just looked out and smiled, Ever, my child, be thy morn's first lays 2. "What is that, mother?" "The dove, my son; And that low, sweet voice, like the widow's moan, Is flowing out from her gentle breast, Constant and pure, by that lonely nest, As the wave is poured from some crystal urn, In friendship as faithful, as constant in love." 3. "What is that, mother?" "The eagle, my boy, Proudly careering his course of joy; Firm, on his own mountain vigor relying; Breasting the dark storm; the red bolt defying: He swerves not a hair, but bears onward, right on. Boy, may the eagle's flight ever be thine, "The swan, my love. He is floating down from his native grove; LOANE. LESSON XXXVI. THE BIRDS OF HEAVEN. 1. HARK to Nature's lesson, given Warbles sweet philosophy: "Mortal', fly from doubt and sorrow'; 2. "Say', have kings more wholesome fare Barns nor hoarded grain have we, Mortal', fly from doubt and sorrow; 3. "One there lives, who, Lord of all, Free from doubt and faithless sorrow: BISHOP HEBER. |