The heart of the sleeper beats high in his breast, Ah! what is that flame, which now bursts on his eye ? Ah! what is that sound which now larums his ear? 'Tis the lightning's red glare, painting hell on the sky! "Tis the crash of the thunder, the groan of the sphere! He springs from his hammock-he flies to the deck; Like mountains the billows tremendously swell- And the death-angel flaps his broad wing o'er the wave! Oh! sailor-boy, wo to thy dream of delight! In darkness dissolves the gay frost-work of blissWhere now is the picture that fancy touched bright, Thy parent's fond pressure, and love's honeyed kiss? Oh! sailor-boy! sailor-boy! never again. Shall home, love, or kindred, thy wishes repay; Unblessed and unhonored, down deep in the main, Full many a score fathom, thy frame shall decay. No tomb shall e'er plead to remembrance for thee, Or redeem form or frame from the merciless surge: But the white foam of waves shall thy winding-sheet be, And winds, in the midnight of winter, thy dirge. On beds of green sea-flower thy limbs shall be laid; Days, months, years, and ages, shall circle away, Oh! sailor-boy! sailor-boy! peace to thy soul. -Bayly. 35. THE NEGLECTED CHILD. I never was a favorite My mother never smiled On me, with half the tenderness And yet I strove to please, with all But when my artless efforts met I did not dare to throw myself, How blessed are the beautiful! I learned to know thy worth:- Forsaken and forlorn, And wished-for others wished it too- I'm sure I was affectionate,- There was a look of love that claimed A smile, or an embrace. But when I raised my lip, to meet The pressure children prize, None knew the feelings of my heart, They spoke not in my eyes. But oh! that heart too keenly felt I saw my sister's lovely form But soon a time of triumph came— "Twas then, unwearied, day and night I watched beside her bed, And fearlessly upon my breast She lived!-she loved me for my care!— I was a lonely being once, Now stood Eliza on the wood-crowned height, O'er Minden's plain, spectatress of the fight; Sought with bold eye, amid the bloody strife, Her dearer self, the partner of her life; From hill to hill the rushing host pursued, And viewed his banner, or believed she viewed. Pleased with the distant roar, with quicker tread, Fast by his hand one lisping boy she led; And one fair girl, amid the loud alarm, Slept on her kerchief, cradled by her arm; While round her brows bright beams of honor dart, And love's warm eddies circle round her heart. Near and more near the intrepid beauty pressed,Saw through the driving smoke his dancing crest, Heard the exulting shout, "They run! they run!" "Great God!" she cried, "he's safe! the battle's won!" A ball now hisses through the airy tides, (Some fury wings it, and some demon guides,) Parts the fine locks, her graceful head that deck, Wounds her fair ear and sinks into her neck; The red stream issuing from her azure veins, Dyes her white veil, her ivory bosom stains.— "Ah me!" she cried, and sinking on the ground, Kissed her dear babes, regardless of the wound. "Oh, cease not yet to beat, thou vital urn! Oh, spare ye war-hounds, spare their tender age, Quick through the murmuring gloom his footseps tread 66 Poor weeping babe with bloody fingers pressed, "Oh heavens!" he cried, "my first rash vow forgive! 7. BETH-GELERT; OR, THE DEATH OF THE GRAYHOUND.— Spencer. The spearmen heard the bugle sound, And many a brach and many a hound, But when he gained his castle door, The hound all o'er was smeared with gore, Llewellyn gazed with much surprise, His favorite checked his joyful guise, Onward in haste Llewellyn past, And still where'er his eyes he cast O'erturned his infant's bed he found, |