The Drum Beat/Number 10/The Sailor's Wedding
THE SAILOR'S WEDDING.
"O, loitering ship," a sailor cried,
"Now speed me home to wed my bride!"
The ship, through flying spray,
Went bounding on her way.
"Now speed me home to wed my bride!"
The ship, through flying spray,
Went bounding on her way.
"O, midnight belis, my watch is done!
O, happy morrow, haste thy sun!"
Then down he lay and slept,
And in his dream he wept.
O, happy morrow, haste thy sun!"
Then down he lay and slept,
And in his dream he wept.
He dreamed that suddenly the waves,
Stood fixed and green, like churchyard graves,—
And then a mournful bell
Rang out a funeral knell,
Stood fixed and green, like churchyard graves,—
And then a mournful bell
Rang out a funeral knell,
"Land ho!" the deck-watch called, with cheers;
The sleeper wakened from his tears:
"O, day of joy," he said—
"This night shall I be wed!"
The sleeper wakened from his tears:
"O, day of joy," he said—
"This night shall I be wed!"
With eager feet, he leaped ashore,
And stood at Mary's cottage-door:
The bride—in white all dressed—
Was in her grave at rest!
And stood at Mary's cottage-door:
The bride—in white all dressed—
Was in her grave at rest!
Theodore Tilton.