And though at times impetuous with emotion
    And anguish long suppressed,
  The swelling heart heaves, moaning like the ocean,
    That cannot be at rest,—­

  We will be patient, and assuage the feeling
    We may not wholly stay;
  By silence sanctifying, not concealing,
    The grief that must have way.

* * * * *

From “The Seaside and The Fireside.”

=_368._= THE WEDDING; THE LAUNCH; THE SHIP.

  The prayer is said,
  The service read,
  The joyous bridegroom bows his head;
  And in tears the good old Master
  Shakes the brown hand of his son,
  Kisses his daughter’s glowing cheek
  In silence, for he cannot speak,
  And ever faster
  Down his own the tears begin to run. 
  The worthy pastor—­
  The Shepherd of that wandering flock,
  That has the ocean for its wold,
  That has the vessel for its fold,
  Leaping ever from rock to rock—­
  Spake, with accents mild and clear,
  Words of warning, words of cheer,
  But tedious to the bridegroom’s ear.

* * * * *

  Then the Master,
  With a gesture of command,
  Waved his hand;
  And at the word,
  Loud and sudden there was heard,
  All around them and below,
  The sound of hammers, blow on blow,
  Knocking away the shores and spurs. 
  And see! she stirs! 
  She starts,—­she moves,—­she seems to feel
  The thrill of life along her keel,
  And, spurning with her foot the ground,
  With one exulting, joyous bound,
  She leaps into the ocean’s arms!

  And lo! from the assembled crowd
  There rose a shout, prolonged and loud,
  That to the ocean, seemed to say,—­
    “Take her, O bridegroom, old and gray,
  Take her to thy protecting arms,
  With all her youth and all her charms!”
  How beautiful she is!  How fair
  She lies within those arms, that press
  Her form with many a soft caress
  Of tenderness and watchful care! 
  Sail forth into the sea, O ship! 
  Through wind and wave, right onward steer! 
  The moistened eye, the trembling lip,
  Are not the signs of doubt or fear.

  Sail forth into the sea of life,
  O gentle, loving, trusting wife,
  And safe from all adversity
  Upon the bosom of that sea
  Thy comings and thy goings be! 
  For gentleness and love and trust
  Prevail o’er angry wave and gust;
  And in the wreck of noble lives
  Something immortal still survives!

  Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State! 
  Sail on, O Union strong and great! 
  Humanity with all its fears,
  With all the hopes of future years,
  Is hanging breathless on thy fate! 
  We know what master laid thy keel,
  What workman wrought thy ribs of steel,
  Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
  What anvils rang, what hammers beat,