 | The genius of oblivion ; and Other Original Poems |  |
125
THE SAILOR'S RETURN.
November's clouds roll'd dark and drear,
And loud the blast was swelling,
As Ellen wip'd the gushing tear,
That all her hopes was quelling.
And loud the blast was swelling,
As Ellen wip'd the gushing tear,
That all her hopes was quelling.
And yet, since Henry's last embrace,
Hope often smiles beguiling;
A Sailor he, his home the sea,
And there for her he's toiling.
Hope often smiles beguiling;
A Sailor he, his home the sea,
And there for her he's toiling.
And there was one, her darling son,
And fond was her caressing,
To Henry's breast he ne'er was prest;
Nor shared a father's blessing.
And fond was her caressing,
To Henry's breast he ne'er was prest;
Nor shared a father's blessing.
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How soft, yet sad the gaze she fix'd,
That father's features scanning;
While love in every thought was mix'd,
That his return was planning.
That father's features scanning;
While love in every thought was mix'd,
That his return was planning.
High throbb'd her heart with anxious joy,
When from the treach'rous water,
Her Henry'll clasp his blooming boy,
And kiss his lisping daughter.
When from the treach'rous water,
Her Henry'll clasp his blooming boy,
And kiss his lisping daughter.
With thousand tender tales the while,
She'll fill his recollection;
A mother's wile, to win a smile,
And raise a sire's affection.
She'll fill his recollection;
A mother's wile, to win a smile,
And raise a sire's affection.
Oh, nature! round the mother's heart
Thy holy ties how tender!
And life's last lingering sands must part,
E'er she those ties surrender.
Thy holy ties how tender!
And life's last lingering sands must part,
E'er she those ties surrender.
127
But wild and wilder rose the storm,
And fierce the tempest pelted—
Like promised pleasure's airy form,
Poor Ellen's visions melted.
And fierce the tempest pelted—
Like promised pleasure's airy form,
Poor Ellen's visions melted.
As ebbing waves' returning roar—
More strong her fears assail her,
With every breeze his wreck she sees,
Till strength and courage fail her.
More strong her fears assail her,
With every breeze his wreck she sees,
Till strength and courage fail her.
One refuge yet—the mighty God!
All nature bows before him—
Alike beneath his smile or rod,
His creatures should adore him.
All nature bows before him—
Alike beneath his smile or rod,
His creatures should adore him.
Her sleeping offspring's bed beside,
Her pray'r to Him ascended—
In feeling's soft and mingled tide
The wife and mother blended.
Her pray'r to Him ascended—
In feeling's soft and mingled tide
The wife and mother blended.
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Her soul was calm, and hushed the storm,
When, lo, a step attended!
“'Tis Henry, Henry, safe from harm”—
And all her sorrow ended.
When, lo, a step attended!
“'Tis Henry, Henry, safe from harm”—
And all her sorrow ended.
| The genius of oblivion ; and Other Original Poems | |