FOR CHILDREN. 257

THE NAUTILUS.

Wuere southern suns and winds prevail,
And undulate the summer seas,!

The Nautilus expands his sail,
And scuds before the freshening breeze.

Oft is a little squadron seen
Of mimic ships, all rigged complete ;
Fancy might think the fairy-queen
Was sailing with her elfin fleet.

' With how much beauty is designed
Each channeled bark of purest white !

' With orient pearl each cabin? lined,
Varying with every change of light ;

While with his little slender oars,
His silken sail and tapering mast,
The dauntless mariner explores
The dangers of the watery waste.

Prepared, should tempests rend the sky,
From harm his fragile bark to keep,
He furls? his sail, his oars lays by,
And seeks his safety in the deep.

Then safe on ocean’s shelly bed,

He hears the storm above him roar,
"Mid groves of coral glowing red,

And rocks o’erhung with madrepore.

’ The Nautilus is found in the Mediterranean Sea.
® Cabin—in allusion to the chambers or compartments of

the shell. 3 Furls—takes ir.

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