The Wreck

We stood upon the wlnd-swept beach of old Lake Michigan one day: The surf ran high the heavy waves tossed nolsiiy at thelr mad play, Thcir whitenlng cresis broke into foam Uiat nercely kitsed the beat shore, And loud above the whisüing wind was heard the water's sullen roar. The huge waves, shorn of thelr smooth sheen, Rolied ín like walls of living green. Upon those waves, so ficrcely tossed, we eaw a white-satled vessel iide, Whosehulldipped low, then rose again, borne swiftly on th' incomlng tide: And as we watched, otir facea blanched, could she burvive that awful gale? And now there flocked down on the beach, men woracn, wives with faces pule. High o'er the light-liou.se dashed the spray Scattering itself in furious way. The Beethlng, swelling flood surged madly round the struEgling snip, On some hih crest she poised awhile, then in Death's jaws would seem to dip, Yet near and nearer still she come?- on on throuüh all that sea of foam, Tho rhurning channel fhe must makr - that dauKorous pith way lcading home, But will she make it,- can ►he -oh What auouy these faces show I For fathers, huband, lovers, sons, as precious freight that vessel beait. To what avi il those lives on hore, if all unanswered are their prayert! O suiely Heaveu hath not in store so passing bitter laie for them. That they must see, within this hoor, the perishing of those brave men. And now the vessi 1 is so near She'B but a hand-breadth froin the pier. n fear we hold our breath- O, must they meet that awful doom When but a few feet from the shore,- and almost now in slghtof home? That monster wave. (the ninth, they say) that's rolling fast bshind them now, May swcep the brave ehip past the pier, and down the channel turn her prow. It comes- the ship is rocked and tossed She strikes the pier,- air lust.-alVt lost'. 80 calm! So brlghtl The glorious sun sinks slowly in the waters blue, The lake's fair, peaceful surface now reflects the tint of Heaven's own hue. The straying zephyrs passjng by, cause scarce a ripple to be seen; And out as far as eye can reach, is spread a wondrous golden i-heen. But down below those waters blue,- Far down,- the wreek lies hid Irom view