She could scud before the wind With just a sail set; Or beat up and go about With not a foot wet. It was in September That she went out anew, She went out of harbour With a light breeze and fair, And every shred of canvas spread Upon the soft blue air; But when she passed the Needles, It was blowing half a gale, And she took in a double reef And hauled down half her sail. Just as the sun was sinking, A cloud sprang from the east, And a black wind rushed below, And struck the little schooner As a man strikes his foe. She fought like a hero Alas! how could she fight, With driving clouds before; There were ten souls on board of her, With a prayer upon her lip; As they drove upon the rocks, The flicker of the firelight Came through the swirls of foam, And they cried to one another, By those bright hearths they guessed not, Closing their peaceful day, How ten poor souls were drowning Not half-a-mile away. But there were some hardy fellows Who had manned the life-boat long ago, Out in the darkness, clinging Up spoke the life-boat coxswain The men were all so willing That they chose the first who spoke, And he plunged into the breathless pause, Before a huge wave broke. And the wave sprang like a panther, And caught him by the neck; And tossed him, as you toss a ball, Upon the shuddering wreck. Faint, eager hands upheld him Till he had got his breath, And could make fast the blessed rope- There's many a precious cargo But I think our truest heroes Now bear those weary wanderers And warm them at the hearths whose light, Gravely to see, and say, "Our turn may come to-morrow, As theirs has come to-day." Among the fishers and sailors There came a sunburnt man, They thought his days were done: "Oh! I was bound for Plymouth, And he for the coast of Spain, But little I thought when we set sail How we should meet again. And who will tell his mother How he is come ashore ? For though I loved him very much, "I'll kiss his lips full gently Before they are quite cold, And she shall take that kiss from mine Ere this moon waxes old." "Father!" the pale lips murmur, "Is mother with you here?" The answer to these welcome words Was a sob and then a cheer! Now all you life-boat heroes, Who reckon your lives so cheap, You banish tears from other homes,Make not your own to weep! You cannot die like lions, For all you are so strong; While you are saving other lives, God keep your own from wrong |