SORROW ON THE SEA.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 25, 29 July 1893, Page 1 (Supplement)

SORROW ON THE SEA.

" There is sorrow on the sea , it cannot be quiet."— Jer. xlix., 23. ( Tho recent naval disaster brings to . mind many distressing occurrences of a similar character during recentyears — among such disasters the loss of | the Eurydice will be remembered by L many persons. The following lines i were written by Captain Hare, who went down with the ship, and the ! MS. of the poem was found iv that , officer's desk by a diver at work on the wreck off the Isle of Wight :— ; I stood on the shore of the beautiful sea, ! And tho billows were rolliu"- wild and free ; Onward they came with unfailing force, Then backward turnediniheirrestlesscourse. Ever and ever they rose and fell, , AVith heaving and surging and mighty swell ; r Ever and over sounded their roar, Foaming and dashing- against the shore. In summor and winter, by night and by day, Through cloud and sunshine holding their sway. And deep seemed calling aloud to deep, Lest themurmuring waves should fall asleep. Oh, whan shall the ocean's troubled breast Calmly and quietly sink into rest f When shall tho waves' wild murmurs cease. And tho might}' waters be hushed in peace J It cannot bo quiot ; it cannot rest ; There must be heaving on ocean's breast ; The tido must obb and tho tide must flow, Whilst tho changing seasons come and go. Still from tho depths of that hidden storo There are treasures tossed up alongthe shore, Tossed by the billows, then seized again, And carried away by the rushing main. Oh, strangely glorious and beautiful sea ! Sounding for ever mysteriously ! Why are thy billows still rolling on With that wild, and sad, and musical tone ? Why is there never repose for thee ? Why slumberost thou not, O mighty sea ? Then tho ocean's voice I seomed to near, , Mournfully, solemnly sounding near, Like a wail cent up from the caves below, Fraught with dark memories of human woe, Telling of loved ones buried there, Of tho dying shriek and the dying prayer ; Telling of hentti still watching in vain For those who shall never come back again ; Of tho widow's grave and the orphans cry, And tho mother's speechless agony. Oh, no, tho ocean can never rest With such secrets hidden within its breast. There is sorrow written upon the sea, And dark and stormy its waves must bo. It cannot bo quiet, it cannot bleep, This dark, relentless, and stormy deep. ' But a d'ty shall come, a blessed day, Whi*'i envthly sorrows shall pass away, '* 'hc:i the hour of anguish shall turn to peace, Ami even the roar of the waves shall csaae . Then from out its deepest, d-irkest bed Old Ocean -hall rendor up its dead, And, freed from tho weight of hitman woe-, Shall quickly sink in its last repose. ■ No sorrow shall ever bo written then Iv the depths of the sea or the hearts of men . But Heaven and earth renewed shall shine, All clothed in glory aud light divine. 1 Then where shall the billows of ocean be '- Gone, for in hpavon shall be no more sea 'Tis a bright and beautilful thing of earth, But cannot 6haro in tho soul's new birth , Its life is of murmur, and tossing, andsnray, And at reating-timo it must pass away. I But, oh ! thou glorious and beautiful sea, • There is health, andjoy, and blessing in thee. Solemnly, sweetly, I hear thy voice Bidding me weep and yet rejoice — Weep for tbo loved ones buried beneath, Rejoice in Him who has conquered death ; Weep for the sorrowing and tempest-tosoefi, Rejoice in Him who has saved the lost , Weep for the sin, the sorrow, the atrifo, Rejoice iv tho hope of Eternal Life.