"Tis a terrible night, and the seas run mountains high, The wind is howling fiercely, with a dark and sullen sky; Eyes are aching and blinded with the driving sleet and rain, And thoughts turn to those who are going out, who may never come back again.

A three-mast barque is drifting towards the cruel rocks, And we know when she strikes by her staggering, and can almost hear the shocks That split her keel like matchwood, and rip her bottom out, While the sea gets covered with wreckage, which is angrily tossed about.

The Life-boat's crew have been summoned, and prompt to their duty come; Willing hands help to launch the boat into the breakers and foam, With a prayer to God to watch over her crew and bring them back safe to land, To give them His aid to save the men who are waiting with frost-numbed hands.

After a long, hard struggle with shrieking wind and the sea, They safely reach the vessel, and drop closely under her lee; Quickly they take off all the crew, and bending their backs to the oar, They bring the Life-boat's head around, and then come straight for the shore.

A hearty greeting awaits them, and as the boat's bow strikes the sand, She is hauled far up out of reach of the waves, which thunder upon the strand.

Her crew have done their duty, and done it nobly too; This is a type of the men round our coasts, Life-boatmen brave and true.

So you who are snug in your homes, when you hear the signal-gun's call, Just give a thought to the men who may be bidding good-bye to their all; Who go forth on their errand of mercy, to succour those in need, To battle with the wind and wave, and the raging ocean's greed.

WILL NICHOLLS (Son of a Life-boat Coxswain).

NOTICE.

The next number of the LIFE-BOAT JOURNAL mil be published on the 1st February, 1904.