fearful show, The roof-ribs swarth, the candent hearth, the ruddy, lurid row Of smiths that stand, an ardent band, like men before the foe; As, quivering through his fleece of flame, the sailing monster slow Sinks on the anvil, all about the faces fiery grow, "Hurrah!" they shout, "leap out, leap out": bang, bang, the sledges go; Hurrah! the jetted lightnings are hissing high and low; A hailing fount of fire is struck at every squashing blow; The leathern mail rebounds the hail; the rattling cinders strew The ground around; at every bound the sweltering fountains flow; And thick and loud the swinking crowd, at every stroke, pant "Ho!" Leap out, leap out, my masters; leap out and lay on load! Let's forge a goodly anchor, a bower, thick and broad; For a heart of oak is hanging on every blow, I bode, And I see the good ship riding, all in a perilous road; The low reef roaring on her lee, the roll of ocean poured From stem to stern, sea after sea, the mainmast by the board; The bulwarks down, the rudder gone, the boats stove at the chains, But courage still, brave mariners, the bower still remains, And not an inch to flinch he deigns save when ye pitch sky-high, Then moves his head, as though he said, “Fear nothing, here am I !" Swing in your strokes in order, let foot and hand keep time, Your blows make music sweeter far than any steeple's chime! But while ye swing your sledges, sing; and let the burden be, The Anchor is the Anvil King, and royal crafts LABOR SONG. FROM THE BELL-FOUNDER." AH little they know of true happiness, they whom satiety fills, Who, flung on the rich breast of luxury, eat of the rankness that kills. Ah little they know of the blessedness toilpurchased slumber enjoys Who, stretched on the hard rack of indolence, taste of the sleep that destroys; Nothing to hope for, or labor for; nothing to sigh for, or gain; Nothing to light in its vividness, lightning-like, bosom and brain; Nothing to break life's monotony, rippling it o'er with its breath: We women, when afflictions come, We only suffer and are dumb. And when, the tempest passing by, Ours is no wisdom of the wise, DINAH MARIA MULOCK. TO LABOR IS TO PRAY. Nothing but dulness and lethargy, weariness, PAUSE not to dream of the future before us; sorrow, and death! A LANCASHIRE DOXOLOGY. ["Some cotton has lately been imported into Farringdon, where the mills have been closed for a considerable time. The people. who were previously in the deepest distress, went out to meet the cotton: the women wept over the bales and kissed them, and finally sang the Doxology over them." — Spectator of May 14, 1863.] | "PRAISE God from whom all blessings flow," He opens and he shuts his hand, We fathom not the mighty plan, Labor is health! Lo, the husbandman reaping, How through his veins goes the life-current leaping! How his strong arm in its stalworth pride sweeping, True as a sunbeam the swift sickle guides. Labor is wealth, in the sea the pearl groweth ; Rich the queen's robe from the cocoon floweth ; From the fine acorn the strong forest bloweth ; Temple and statue the marble block hides. Droop not! though shame, sin, and anguish are round thee ! Bravely fling off the cold chain that hath bound thee ! Look to the pure heaven smiling beyond thee! Rest not content in thy darkness, - a clod! Work for some good, be it ever so slowly! Cherish some flower, be it ever so lowly! Labor! all labor is noble and holy; Let thy great deed be thy prayer to thy God. FRANCES S. OSGOOD. THE POOR MAN'S LABOR. My mother sighed, the stream of pain Flowed fast and chilly o'er her brow; My father prayed, nor prayed in vain ; Sweet Mercy, cast a glance below. "My husband dear," the sufferer cried, My pains are o'er, behold your son.' "Thank Heaven, sweet partner," he replied; "The poor boy's labor's then begun." Alas! the hapless life she gave By fate was doomed to cost her own; A stranger wild beneath the sun, No parent's hand, with pious care, My childhood's devious steps to guide; Or bid my venturous youth beware The griefs that smote on every side. |