. Ballads of bravery. BALLADS OF BRAVERY. 173 The wind piped shrilly, the wind piped loud, It shrieked mong the cordage, it howled in the shroud, And the sleet fell thick from the cold, dun cloud; But high over all, in tones of glee. The voice of the mate rang cheerily, — Now, men, for your wives and your sweethearts sakes! Cheer, messmates, cheer! Quick ! man the brakes ! We 11 gain on the leak ere the skipper wakes ; And though our peril your hearts appall. Ere dawns the morrow we 11 laugh at the squall. He railed at the tempest, he laughed at its threats,He played with his fingers like cast
. Ballads of bravery. BALLADS OF BRAVERY. 173 The wind piped shrilly, the wind piped loud, It shrieked mong the cordage, it howled in the shroud, And the sleet fell thick from the cold, dun cloud; But high over all, in tones of glee. The voice of the mate rang cheerily, — Now, men, for your wives and your sweethearts sakes! Cheer, messmates, cheer! Quick ! man the brakes ! We 11 gain on the leak ere the skipper wakes ; And though our peril your hearts appall. Ere dawns the morrow we 11 laugh at the squall. He railed at the tempest, he laughed at its threats,He played with his fingers like castanets ;Yet think not that he, in his mirth, forgetsThat the plank he is riding this hour at seaMay launch him the next to eternity! The white-haired skipper turned lifted his hands, as it were to pray;But his look spoke plainly as look could say,The boastful thought of the Pharisee, — Thank God, I m not hardened as others be ! But the morning dawned, and the waves sank low,And the winds, oerwearied, foreb
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpu, booksubjectenglishpoetry
