The Pebble On The Shore

A wanderer upon the strand Oí the wido sea before liim gleamiug, Held in his open curious haud A pebble, subject for his dreaming ; IMcked from the white encircling sand, I'olished as íf by science seeming. lie gazed upon its períect form, As true as though by care invested, Wrought by the forcé of many a storm, That with tho shore erewhile contested, And left, when ceased the conflict warm, In humble beauty where it rested ! " 'Tis but a little stone," he said, " Scarce wortli a serious inspection ! " lint through his mmd the pebble sped, And waked a train of deep reflection ; Like David's in Goliath's head, That brought the lion to subjection. " Here is truth, though simple told : If this small pebble, idly lying. Had never by the waves been rolled, lts beauties none would now be spying ; But in befouling sand or mould lts worth iu darkness would be dying. " But, dashed by the resistless sea, It gained its symmetry by action ; One round of action, constantly, Made it a thing of satisfaction ; This moral lesson teaching me, That ne'er will lose its strong attraction. " Man, but a pebble on Time's shore, His soul were dead from inanition ; Though battling waves may chafe it sore, And make its lot a vexed condition, It by the trial shines the more, Needing the polish of attrition. " And all the beauty that it knows, Drawn forth by toil iu mercy given, Upon the shoal in brightness shows, Bright in degree that it has striven, At last m Cïod's own hand it glows, A jewel fit to set in heayen ! "