THE MISSING SHIP

BY MARY A. M IVER.

Ship after ship glides into port, but that one never cornes

Which bore away the angel Peace from many darkened homes.

And yet how patiently bas Hope her tireless vigil kept,

And oh, how often anxlous Love in silence vainly wept !

But never blew and ne'er may blow that fair propitious breeze,

By which our loved and lost might once bave crossed the dang'rous seas.

They bringrichfreîght, the stately ships which sail from distant parts,

But one there was with nobler wealth of loving human hearts.

What do we care for gold and gems ? Hâve the remorseless seas

Glaimed ail we held as precious and in mock'ry sent us thèse ?

Cold disappointment to our hearts its saddTiing lore lias tauglit.

O, that those hearts were wiser for what the slow years hâve brought.

Day follows day, and finds us yet as foolish as before,

Slill watching for the missing ship wliich never cornes to shore.

Ship after ship glides into port, but that one never more

Will to the harbor of our home the long-lost love restore.