It fills awhile a little nook;
To-day it is--to-morrow, look!
The great white Throne! the open Book!

We stand upon a narrow space,
Eternity rolls on apace--
Where next shall be our resting-place?




LIFE.


As when the graceful bark, with spreading sails,
Glides from the port into the open sea,
Wafted along by soft and prosperous gales,
Just as the rising sun bids darkness flee;
So, like that bark, in early youth are we,
When first we launch upon the sea of life--
Our hopes as bright, our youthful souls as free,
The scene around with love and beauty rife.
And all unknown to us its griefs, its cares and strife.

The bark glides on; but, see, the azure sky
With dark and angry clouds is soon o'ercast;
The thunders roar, the forked lightnings fly,
The billows beat, and howls the midnight blast!
The trembling vessel, with dismantled mast,
The maddened waves have in their fury tossed,