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The Ocean.

BY BERNARD BARTON.

BEAUTIFUL, sublime and glorious ;
Wild, majestic, foaming, free;
Over time itself victorious,
Image of eternity!
Epithet-exhausting Ocean,
'Twere as easy to control
In the storm thy billowy motion,
As thy wonders to unrol.

Sun, and moon, and stars shine o'er thee,

See thy surface ebb and flow;

Yet attempt not to explore thee,

In thy soundless depths below. Whether morning's splendours steep thee With the rainbow's glowing grace, Tempests rouse, or navies sweep thee, 'Tis but for a moment's space.

Earth,―her valleys, and her mountains, Mortal man's behests obey:

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SPEAK GENTLY.

Thy unfathomable fountains

Scoff his search, and scorn his sway.
Such art thou, stupendous Ocean!-
But, if overwhelm'd by thee,
Can we think without emotion
What must thy Creator be?"

Speak Gently!

BY D. BATES.

SPEAK gently! It is better far
To rule by love than fear;
Speak gently-let no harsh words mar
The good we might do here!

Speak gently! Love doth whisper low

The vows that true hearts bind; And gently Friendship's accents flow; Affection's voice is kind.

SPEAK GENTLY.

Speak gently to the little child;
Its love be sure to gain;

Teach it in accents soft and mild:
It may not long remain.

Speak gently to the young, for they
Will have enough to bear,

Pass through this life as best they may
'Tis full of anxious care!

Speak gently to the aged one;

Grieve not the care-worn heart: The sands of life are nearly run,— Let such in peace depart.

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
Let no harsh tones be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word!

Speak gently to the erring-know,
They may have toiled in vain ;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
Oh win them back again!

Speak gently!-He who gave his life
To bend man's stubborn will,

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82 TIME TO ME THIS TRUTH HAS TAUGHT.

When elements were in fierce strife,
Said to them "Peace, be still."

Speak gently!-'tis a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.

Cime to me this truth has taught.

BY CHARLES SWAIN.

TIME to me this truth has taught,—
('Tis a truth that's worth revealing,)
More offend from want of thought,
Than from want of feeling;
If advice we would convey,

There's a time we should convey it ;

If we've but a word to say,

There's a time in which to say it.

TIME TO ME THIS TRUTH HAS TAUGHT. 83
Oft unknowingly the tongue

Touches on a cord so aching,
That a word or accent wrong,
Pains the heart almost to breaking.
Many a tear of wounded pride,
Many a tear of human blindness,
Has been soothed or turned aside
By a quiet voice of kindness.

Many a beauteous flower decays,
Though
we tend it e'er so much;
Something secret on it preys,
Which no human aid can touch;
So in many a lovely breast
Lies some canker grief concealed,
That if touched is more oppressed,
Left unto itself is healed.
Time to me this truth has taught,-
('Tis a truth that's worth revealing,)
More offend from want of thought,)

Than from want of feeling.

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