Sketches of Natural History :: :: University of Virginia Library

THE CAMEL.

Camel, thou art good and mild,
Might'st be guided by a child;
Thou wast made for usefulness,
Man to comfort and to bless.
Thou dost clothe him; thou dost feed;
Thou dost lend to him thy speed.
And through wilds of trackless sand,
In the hot Arabian land,
Where no rock its shadow throws;
Where no pleasant water flows;
Where the hot air is not stirred,
By the wing of singing bird,
There thou go'st, untired and meek,
Day by day, and week by week,

Bearing freight of precious things,
Silks for merchants, gold for kings;
Pearls of Ormuz, riches rare,
Damascene and Indian ware;
Bale on bale, and heap on heap,
Freighted like a costly ship!

When the red Simoom comes near,
Camel, dost thou know no fear?
When the desart sands uprise
Flaming crimson to the skies,
And like pillared giants strong,
Stalk the dreary waste along,
Bringing death unto his prey,
Does not thy good heart give way?
Camel, no! thou do'st for man
All thy generous nature can;
Thou do'st lend to him thy speed
In that awful time of need;

And when the Simoom goes by,
Teachest him to close his eye,
And bow down before the blast
Till the purple death has passed!

And when week by week is gone,
And the traveller journeys on
Feebly; when his strength is fled,
And his hope and heart seem dead,
Camel, thou do'st turn thine eye
On him kindly, soothingly,
As if thou would'st cheering, say,
“Journey on for this one day!
“Do not let thy heart despond;
“There is water yet beyond!
“I can scent it in the air;—
“Do not let thy heart despair!”
And thou guid'st the traveller there.

Camel, thou art good and mild,
Might'st be guided by a child;
Thou wast made for usefulness,
Man to comfort and to bless;
And these desart wastes must be
Untracked regions but for thee!