The Return of the Ship.

Up sprang the boy to hear such sounds, so cheerful and so sweet,
He felt no more the piercing winds, the thorns beneath his feet,
But raising up his eyes to Heaven, he prayed for strength to bear
Whatever in His wisdom Gop might please to make him share.
And now his steps retracing fast, good news he quickly hears,—
How that a richly-laden ship, amid ten thousand cheers,

Had entered port from distant climes, full freighted with their gold,
By trafhe gained for English wares in honest barter sold. |
With shout and song the crew rejoiced—not less the folk on shore—
Told of eine strange and rare among the blackamoor ;

And how their King was glad to see our English sailors bold,
Who sat and ate and drank with him from cups of purest gold.
Once on a day, amid their cheer, when healths went gaily round,
How were the crew amazed to see, in swarms upon the ground,
Unnumber'd rats and mice rush forth and seize the goodly cheer,
While stood the Gordes guests aloof; o’erwhelmed with dread and

fear.