THE LIFE-BOAT. CK! man the life-boat! See yon bark QUICK There's a rock ahead, the night is dark, Her mainmast is gone, but she still drives on The life-boat! Man the life-boat! Quick! man the life-boat! Hark! the gun Quick! man the life-boat! See the crew Gaze on their watery grave; Already some, a gallant few, Are battling with the wave; And one there stands, and wrings his hands, For his wife and child, through the tempest wild, He sees on the heights before him. The life-boat! Man the life-boat! Speed, speed the life-boat! Off she goes! From shore and ship a cheer arose, That rang from ship to shore. And dearer than gold is the wealth untold Hurrah! the life-boat dashes on, But, cheered by hope, the seamen cope They are all in the boat!-hurrah! they're afloat! By the life-boat! Cheer the life-boat! CHICAGO. MEN said at vespers: "All is well!" In one wild night the city fell; Fell shrines of prayer and marts of gain On threescore spires had sunset shone, Brave hearts, who fought in slow retreat Turned, powerless, to the blinding glare, A sudden impulse thrilled each wire Swift words of cheer, warm heart-throbs came; In tears of pity died the flame! From East, from West, from South and North, The messages of hope shot forth, And, underneath the severing wave, The world, full handed, reached to save. Fair seemed the old; but fairer still The new the dreary void shall fill With dearer homes than those o'erthrown, Rise, stricken city! - from thee throw How shrivelled in thy hot distress The primal sin of selfishness! How instant rose, to take thy part, The angel in the human heart! Ah! not in vain the flames that tossed Above thy dreadful holocaust; The Christ again has preached through thee The Gospel of Humanity! 25TM T Then lift once more thy towers on high, And love is still miraculous! F. G. Whittier. "ROCK OF AGES." ROCK of ages, cleft for me," Thoughtlessly the maiden sung; Sang as sing the birds in June; "Rock of ages, cleft for me, "Let me hide myself in Thee,"— Fell from lips untouched by care, On some other lips a prayer— "Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee." "Rock of ages, cleft for me,"❞— 'Twas a woman sung them now, Pleadingly and prayerfully, Every word her heart did know. Let me hide myself in Thee." "Rock of ages, cleft for me,” Lips grown aged sung the hymn Trustingly and tenderly, Voice grown weak and eyes grown dim "Let me hide myself in Thee." Trembling though the voice and low, Ran the sweet strain peacefully, Like a river in its flow; Sang as only they can sing Who life's thorny path have press'd; Sang as only they can sing Who behold the promised rest "Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee." "Rock of ages, cleft for me,"Sung above a coffin-lid; Underneath, all restfully, All life's joys and sorrows hid; Nevermore, O storm-tossed soul! Nevermore from wind or tide, Nevermore from billow's roll Wilt thou need thyself to hide. |