SHE put to sea on Christmas Eve, And through their tears they saw her leave, And in that happy time of peace The strife of waters well might cease; Bat far away across the foam The sailor found another home.

No more, no more, where hearts beat warm, Shall he be welcomed from the storm.

No more, no more a mother's tears Shall hallow his returning kiss; And through the gloom of waiting years No sunlit mist of promise bears, The earthly hope of meeting bliss.

What hearts and hopes have passed, 0 Sea! In thy deep heart of mystery ? What rain of widowed woman's tears Have fallen on thy heaving breast, "What million cries of deeds undone, Of spirits freed ere grace was won, Are mingled in thy wild unrest! Bound like a bird for other lands, The good ship sped—'twas Christmas Day, And bells rang sweetly far away While she was drifting to the sands.

And then the blinding snow came down Fast, dazzlingly tluck and white, And o'er the troubled waters' frown There came no kindly gleam of light And, as it were, on succour's brink, The vessel fast began to sink.

See now upon the billows' height She rises on the startled sight.

Like a grim vision of the night, Leit now to winds and waters' will, Faster and faster does she fill.

Oh! will no voice the tempest still ? " One hope, one hope, bring out the boat," The skipper thundered 'midst the roar; The sound was strangled in his throat.

The winds and snow in angry war Flung it into the seething gea, Which thundered back in mockery.

At last the boat was launched, but vain, Lite a frail reed 'twas rent in twain.

With sky and sea it could not cope, But vanished with their last faint hope.

A little lad was with the crew, A fair-haired lad, whose eyes were blue; Maybe some mother's hand had parted The rings of gold upon his brow, Her voice had bade him be brave-hearted— Sweet voice that was his watchword now.

The skipper, noble Bailor soul, Bound the lad unto the mast, And cheered him 'mid the billows roll, Though hope's short season long had past.

But, hark! the angry strife is done, And far above the ocean's crown, Like spirit-faces, one by one, The pale pure stars look sweetly down; Then come the captain's words of cheer— " Bear up, my lad, the life-boat's near." Ho answer, save a bright* ning-star, As if the words were heard afar; Those honest words of manly cheer— " Bear up, my lad, the life-boat's near I" Bring out the life-boat, saving hope, Manned by heroes every one of them; Briton's pride every mother's son of them; They with winds and waves will cope.

See now towards the wreck she steers, Now wives and mothers dry your tears.

Hope-crested now each wave appears; Hurrah, hurrah! for thoae who gave, Send up a prayer with trembling lips, Pull OB, pull on, great hearts and brave.

See, see they near the sinking ship; "What meed of praise to them belong, Who man the life-boat, aye, and well ? Could singer find a nobler song; Could poet sweeter story tell Than of these men who fight the wave, Called rightly, bravest of the brave ? One fight with jealous waters then, From out their graves come living men.

Yes, rescued, all but one, whose eyes Looked blankly up into the skies; The boy whose eyes of trustful bine Had won the hearts of all the crew.

His clustering curls fell damply o'er The brow fond lips would kiss no more! "While on his parted lips MB breath.

Was frozen to the ice of death.

JFor when the'captain's words of cheer Fell softly on his list'ning ear— " Bear up, my lad, the life-boat's near!" 'Twas so; that bark whose golden sails Are never torn by earthly gales, Had found a shore as fair as he On his last voyage long had sought.

Yes, one more heart to the hungry sea, But another soul in the heavenly port! KAY BEE..