THE CHEER OF THE TRENTON.

Western Star, Issue 1387, 7 September 1889, Page 4

THE CHEER OF THE TRENTON.

Our anchors drag and our cables surge .•' At*very shock of 4he hurtling sea, While the mist of the'breakers veils tns verge p/ithe reef of;coral under our lee, From the east by north to tfie aorth-norlh-west •The'wild typhoon veers sweep qn.arfe^Pi; And from moinent'to moment mi cross wave’s crest Buries our waists in its sidelong leap. Under the Mows of our plunging screw The white»Pßh»akeMyo>tß and chum, But for all that steam and steel can do, We are drifting slowly astern, astern. On onr starboard quarter close aboard We see the staunch Calliope loom. . While the black flood, from the smoke-stack poured, Covers the Boa)hke a pall of doom. Bter topmasts struck and her yards braced sharp „ ./ She is heaoed out for the open main, •'■ r , WKile'her shroude, like the strings of a giant’s harp, Scream to the toneh of the hurricane. Wcfrom our flagship Trenton’s deeks Are watching her battle in hope and dread As she threads the throng at tossing wrecks, ‘ ’ Now beaten backward, now forging ahead. She with the redcrois ensign aloft, And we, our starry banner below. Lie beam to beam, as the frigates oft Sangsd in old m» flghts.long ago. We watch the weight of the tempest fall On her flooded docks and be? ratling bow, And ohr hearts ate bsating one and all, , For we both go duwn should she foul ns new Through the darkest night there’s a gleam to break, Fathom by fathom she forges past TUI we know .by the awlrl of her, eddying wake ' That her seaward'struggle is won at last. The Admiral tosses his eea cap high, As from station to station is passed the word, And over the uproar of wave and sky The thunder roU of our' cheer is heard. ' And back from the Briton’s taffrail came Tho gallant, graceful, and proud reply, .... That atirfed onr hearts like a pulse of flame, The seaman’s and brother’s last good-bye. Oh, blood is. thicker than water, and long Will’England’s memory hold it dear, And the tale, be told in the fo’caatle song ' Of the flagship Trenton’s parting cheer. , • Walter. Mere hill, in the New York Sun,