Mirror of might and of splendor!
Type of immensity!
Smiling in face of the upper blue;
Beautiful! crystal Sea!
Yet, under thy brilliant beaming,
As chills at the heart of love
When a smile o'er-gilds the placid face,
Cold under-currents move.
Over thy glistering waters,
Out of the purple haze,
Thrilleth the chords of memory
With touch of other days.
Once more, by thy rim, bright Ocean!
A youthful, happy band
We course along the yellow sands
Afar, in fair Scotland.
Once more we plash our childish feet
Amid thy shining waves;
Or shelter from the sudden gust
Within thy border caves.
Ho! voices of the summer sea!
Ho! voices sweet and low!
Ye mournful chant their requiem,
Those days of long ago.
He sailed upon thy whitened crest,
The choicest of our band;
Thy seething surges wail his dirge
On far New Holland strand.
That other sleeps--we know not where,
Who early braved thy tide;--
Sing wavelets! we shall meet at length
Upon that further side.
Yes, mighty Ocean! all thy storms
Shall lull to perfect peace;
And all thy weary monotones,
With rhythms sad shall cease.
So now, we stand upon thy brink;
Whilst 'yond thy sparkling foam,
We hear sweet voices calling us
To our eternal home.
"I GAVE HIM AN ORANGE."