Oh! once again resume thy potent pen,
Thou pleasing stranger and heart-moving man,
And lead our thoughts back captive once again,
As thou alone of others only can.
Thy “Slaver” long had lingered in our mind,
And called forth hopes of future fame for thee,
When came thy “Cabin-Boy,” so fair and kind,
To set our heart’s best thoughts and feelings free—
Say, was he real? Truth seemed written
On every line that in the tale was shown,
And maidens fair by the ideal were smitten,
And sighed because the real was unknown.
Silent and passionless our hearts had beat
For months, and feared thou hadst resigned thy sway,
And earth-cares closely clung around our feet,
When sprung thy “Ocean-Born” to joyous day.
Thy beauteous “Garcia,” pure as e’er a star,
Called forth all pity, sympathy and love;
We dreaded lest the ending, darkling far,
Would all too fierce and desp’rate for her prove;
But for the son who, born of such a pair,
Thy wondrous pen portrayed so truly good,
The picture thou hast drawn so passing fair,
To us it seemed as by thee he had stood.
Oh! cease not yet—nor deem it labor vain
The treasures of thy mind to bring to view,
Let the creations of thy soul again
Their joyous power spread over us anew.
* * * * *