fishermen's memorial and record book. 



147 



WAITING, ANXIOUS WAITING I 



BT R. C. CALDEK. 



There is waiting, anxious waiting, for tlie 

 fisherman's returning, 

 And the angry winds are blowing, as the 

 billows loudly roar ; 

 There's a beacon in the window, and a cheerful 

 fire is burning, 

 To guide the storm-tossed mariner In safety 

 to the shore. 



There is waiting, on the deck, where the 

 fishermen are standing. 

 And fervent prayers are oflfered that the 

 storm may soon be o'er ; 

 All the sails are torn to ribands, and the 

 cables now are stranding, — 

 O God I have mercy on them! they are 

 drifting on the shore I 



There is waiting, anxious waiting, for the ti- 

 dings of the missing — 

 And tearful eyes are looking in sadness to 

 the shore ; 

 And the mother's heart is aching, as the child 

 she's fondly kissing, 

 Whispers softly from its cradle, " "Will 

 papa come no more? " 



There is waiting, anxious waiting, and tlie 

 days and weeks are flying, 

 Tet no coming of the missing ever glads the 

 watcher's eyes ; 

 And the waves for aye are surging, with a 

 wild and mournful sighing, 

 Where in dreamless rest, the fisher with 

 his shattered vessel lies. 



AFTER THE GALE OF 1862. 



[The following lines were suggested upon hearing the wives and relatives of those on 

 board the missing vessels of the Georges fleet making inquiries of a returned Georgesman.] 



" Seaman ! where art thou from ? 

 Art thou from Georges' tide ? 

 And will [hose others come ? 

 Do they in safety ride ? 



" Didst thou my husband see? 

 And was my brother there? 

 And my son, will he come back to me, 

 With his locks of shining hair? 



" At home my children weep ; 

 Now tell me, seaman true, 

 Oh, doth their father sleep 

 Beneath the waters blue? " 



•' Woman, the night was dark, 

 The sea too much to brave; 

 I fear thy husband's bark 

 Hath sunk beneath the wave. 



" And your brother, too, was there, 

 Tossed by the treacherous main; 

 And he with the shining hair 

 Shall ne'er return again. 



" Children, your father sleeps. 

 Beneath the waters blue; 

 But God his promise keeps. — 

 He will take care of you. 



'' Of children once he said, 

 ' Suffer them to come to me ; ' 

 Is not the raven fed 

 By his boundless charity? 



"I'll tell thee more to-morrow; 

 The tears come to my eyes. 

 Go home and calm your sorrow 

 By prayers to Him on high. 



" Hath not the Saviour told thee 

 To come in thy distress ? 

 In his arms he will enfold ye. 

 The ' widow and fatherless. 



" And all with sorrow laden, 

 May come to him in prayer, 

 And joys that are unfading 

 With them from heaven he'll share." 



