248 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



mournful widows, and " two besides that were unborn," 

 or whether he or she was once drowned and left " four 

 mournful widows, eleven children small, two besides 

 that were unborn, making thirteen in all." At any rate, 

 the reader must be satisfied that the author's sorrows 

 were great; for had they not been, no such heart- 

 " rendering " lines as those above quoted could have 

 been written. 



In direct contrast, the following beautiful little poem 

 written by Mrs. Martha W. Jenks, a native of Nan- 

 tucket, is here given, and is entitled 



The Music of the Tower. 



Trinity Church, a very beautiful little edifice in Nantucket, was de- 

 stroyed in the great fire of 1846. It may he remembered that the tower 

 contained a latticed window, through which the wind sighed forth, as an 

 ^Eolian harp, strains of fitful melody, " most musical, most melancholy." 



How sweet, how soothing, and how clear, 



Thou sacred tower, thy spirit's tone 

 Sounds on the musing traveller's ear, 

 Listening and lone! 



Earnest and deep that spirit calls, 



Speaks to the wearied soul of home; 

 Of holy rest within these walls: 

 11 Come hither, come." 



And oh ! responsive in the heart, 



An answering chord is wakened there, 

 Whose voiceless chorus bears a part, 

 And calls to prayer. 



Methinks thy viewless minstrelsy 



Weaveth for all a soothing strain, 

 In mingling notes of sympathy 

 For joy and pain. 



