A shattered bark, and an angry sky, And the storm-wraith shrieking fierce and high, And, aye and anon, from the murky cloud, The thunder echoing hoarse and loud ! Oh! little ship, that at dawn of day Didst gaily sail from thy native bay, "While the fond, proud eyes of friends at home Beheld thee dance o'er the sparkling foam, With starting timbers and canvas torn, Thou drivest, a dreary wreck forlorn.

Thou art lifted aloft, as the billows rise, Till thy form is whelmed in the pitchy skies; Then, downward plunged, thou art lost to sight In the dread abyss of seething white ! Oh ! gallant sailors, the dauntless heart And the stalwart arm have done their part; The heart bore up, and the strong arm strained While the faintest 'glimmer of hope remained.

With an open sea and a vessel stout, Ye yet might weather the tempest out; But your crippled craft all powerless rolls On a treacherous coast of rocks and shoals.

Except the Ruler of wind and wave Stretch forth in pity an arm to save, Each soul aboard of your hapless bark Must sink to-night in the waters dark.

Oh ! wives, and mothers, and maidens true, Whose hearts are bound to those jackets blue, At midnight roused from your slumbers warm By the awful voice of the shrieking storm, Lift, lift your hands to the God above, And pray for the lives of those ye love ! The wind howls on, and the vessel drives — Oh! pray, ye maidens, and mothers, and wives ! — Till, quivering through with the mighty shock, She strikes her bow on a lurking rock.

A helpless hulk, she is filling fast, ' And the mariners cling to shroud and mast, While still the voice of their distant friends In an agonized prayer to God ascends.; And hark ! away on the storm-lashed shore, A shout bursts over the breakers' roar- All undismayed, o'er the boiling wave The Life-boat is coming to seek and save.

The shoals are passed, and she nears the wreck, And the sailors spring from the parting deck; Through the flying foam and the midnight black, Safe—safe to the shore she battles back! * * * * * The storm roars on with its thunder deep, But the weary women have sunk to sleep And a smile plays over each pallid face, For their prayer has been heard at the throne of grace.

FREDERICK LANGBRIDGE.

Storm Warriors; OB, THE LIFE-BOAT WORK on THE GOODWIN SANDS. By the Rev.

J. GILMORE, M.A., Sector of Holy Trinity, Ramsgate, author of " The Ramsgate Life-boat —a Rescue " and " The Ramsgate Life-boat—• a Night on the Goodwin Sands," published in " Macmillan's Magazine;" and " A Night with the Ramsgate Life-boat," published in " Good Words." Or. 8vo. 6s. Published by Macmillan and Co.. and to be had, by order, of all booksellers.

NOTICE—The next number of the " Life-boat Journal" will be published on the 2nd Feb. 1874.