184 

 THE NEGRO FRIEND. 



tf>e fcutfjot of tie " Vision* of ^olitutre, a $oem ; " fcr. 



" Pull, pull the oar ! the winds arise 



Each sinew let us strain ! 

 A watery grave before us lies, 



Unless our bark we gain ! 

 Quick furl the sail, and strike the mast 



Bale out the brine with speed : 

 The tempest round us gathers fast 



Heaven help us in our need ! " 



'Tis vain! 'Tis vain! the pilot's skill. 



The rower's strength all fail ; 

 And higher swell the billows still, 



And louder blows the gale : 

 To shun the wave the steersman's art 



At length is vainly tried ; 

 The hapless crew, with beating heart, 



Are cast upon the tide. 



Awhile the keel precarious aid 



Affords each anxious hand ; 

 But, one by one, benumbed, dismayed, 



Drop off the fainting band : 

 And now alone a sable son 



Of Afric seems to brave, 

 (While fast and furious surges run,) 



With hope the boiling wave. 



What groan is heard ? Yon white man 



The humble negro's friend, 

 Fs faintly struggling on the lee, 



And sinking to his end. 

 " Haste haste and seize this buoyant e-.K>k. 



Quamina well can swim : 

 Quamina will of Heaven but ask 



His friend to save for him ! " 



He spake : and, as he spake, resigned 



That aid so hardly won 

 Strutted awhile with wave and wind. 



But soon his course was run : 



