Wilmington Expositor

Life is a sea—how fair its face,
How smooth its dimpling waters' pace,
But rocks below, and tempests sleep,
Its canopy how pure!
Insidious, o'er the glassy deep,
Nor leave an hour secure.

Life is a wilderness beset
With tangling thorns and treach'rous net,
And prowled by beasts of prey,
One path, alone, conducts aright,
One narrow path with little light;
A thousand lead astray.

Life is a warfare—and alike
Prepared to parry, or to strike,
The practiced foe draws nigh;
O, hold no truce! less dangerous far
To stand, and all his phalanx dare,
Than trust his specious lie.

Whate'er its form, whate'er its flow,
While life is lent to man below,
Our duty stands confest—
To watch incessant—firm of mind.
To watch where'er the post assigned,
And leave to God the rest.

'Twas while they watched, the shepherd swains
Heard angels strike to angels' strains
The song of heavenly love!
Blest harmony! that far excels
All music else on earth that dwells,
Or e'er was tuned above.

Twas while they watched, the sages traced
The star that every star effaced
With new and noble shine.
They followed, and it led the way
To where the infant Saviour lay,
And gave them light divine.

Twas while they watched, with lamp in hand,
And oil well stored, the virgin band
The bridal pomp descried;
They joined it—and the heavenly gate,
That op'd to them its glorious state,
Was closed on all beside.

Watch! watch and pray! in suffering hour,
Victim of death! thy voice I hear!
Thus He exclaimed, who felt its power
And triumphed in the strife;
Fain would I watch with holy fear,
Would watch and pray through life's career,
And only cease with life.