PROVIDENCE.

God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill, He treasures up his bright designs,

And works his sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,

The clouds ye so much dread, Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust him for his grace ; Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan his work in vain ; God is his own interpreter,

And he will make it plain,

Happy he sailed, and great the care she took,
That he should softly sleep and smartly look;
White was his better linen, and his check
Was made more trim than any on the deck ;
And
every

comfort men at sea can know,
Was her’s to buy, to make, and to bestow :
For he to Greenland sailed, and much she told,
How he should guard against the climate's cold;
Yet saw not danger; dangers he'd withstood,
Nor could she trace the fever in his blood.

His messmates smiled at flushings in his cheek,
And he too smiled, but seldom would he speak;
For now he found the danger, felt the pain,
With grievous symptoms he could not explain.
He called his friend, and prefaced with a sigh
A lover's message.-

Thomas, I must die :
Would I could see my Sally, and could rest
My throbbing temples on her faithful breast,
And gazing go!-if not, this trifle take,
And say, till death I wore it for her sake :
Yes! I must die--blow on, sweet breeze, blow on,
Give me one look before

my
Oh! give me that, and let me not despair,
One last fond look !-and now repeat the prayer.'

He had his wish, had more : I will not paint
The lovers' meeting; she beheld him faint,-
With tender fears, she took a nearer view,
Her terrors doubling as her hopes withdrew :
He tried to smile ; and, half succeeding, said,

Yes! I must die”—and hope for ever fled.
Still long she nursed him; tender thoughts meantime
Were interchanged, and hopes and views sublime.

life be gone,