2l6 



FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



I now could see what looked like a bright light glimmering through the 

 fog, about the height a steamer's light would be, half a mile distant, the fog 

 being quite thin). After taking a good look, I said I thought it was a star, 

 and told the man at the wheel to keep the vessel on her course, but a mo- 

 ment later it showed plainer, and the lookout exclaimed, "I'm d — d if ' taint 

 the moon !" I could not help laughing at the fright it had given him, and 

 told him to blow the horn loud, and if the "man in the moon" heard it he 

 would probably keep off and let us go along. 



Such mistakes occur quite often. I have been called out many a time, 

 when running for the land on a clear night, to see a star rising, that the 

 watch had mistaken for a light on the land. This is not so much to be 

 wondered at, since the appearance of a bright star near the horizon so 

 closely resembles a fixed light on shore, that almost any one is liable to be 

 misled. 



GLOUCESTER HARBOR. 



BY WILLIS G. BURNIIAM. 



How oft, like some fond mother-bird. 



Who, when the c-louds foretell the stonn, 

 Gathers her little treinhliiig ones 



Beneatli the shelter of her form. 

 Do thy Itrii^ht waters, wlien the wind 



Swi-eps mournfully aeross tlie sea. 

 Gather the whitt-wingtd, wave-tossed craft 



Fi-om storm and wreck protectinj^ly. 



How beautiful beneath the rays 

 Of a brijjht sun, or fair full moon, 



Thy surface shines witli pleasant li,;rht. 

 At miilnii-'lit, or at day's full noon; 



Like some dear friend whose kindly smil(^ 

 lias cheei-e<l us both in storm and calm. 



And for our hearts' deep, secret wounds 

 lias bt;eu a healing, welcome balm. 



Alas I that us we look far ont 



Beyond thy peace, we watch in vain 

 The sehoonei-s coming from the sea. 



Which will not meet our gaze iigaiu; 

 When, long ago, each sunlit sail 



Went down Ix'low the horizon's blue, 

 How little, ah! how little th.n 



We of time's luustening changes knew. 



