Part 7 — SEA-SIDE MUSINGS.

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BY ADALIZA CUTTER.

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I stood beside the moaning sea one bright autumnal day,

And careless as a singing-bird whiled golden hours away;

Above me was a sunny sky, the winds were hushed to rest,

Gently the waves arose and fell, upon old ocean’s breast.

I gazed into the blue above and saw the sun’s rich glow,

I turned, and saw another sun gleam in the blue below,

One fleecy cloud like fairy robe upon the air did ride,

One little cloud, its own fair mate, sailed o’er the glassy tide.

A bright plumed bird was in the sky, its glitt’ring pinions free,

Another tiny bird I saw, for in the azure sea,

Down flew the one, the other up from ocean’s coral floor,

They kissed, then lightly flew away, and they were seen no more.

I almost thought a mermaid’s form would greet my eager view,

That water nymphs would rise and dance upon the waves so blue,

Or that some little fairy queen, with all her elfin train,

Would come and hold their festivals upon the sunlit main.

As on that sunny beach I stood, I fancied I could hear

Their voices low and musical, their silvery laughter clear;

I almost wished myself a fay, that I might join their throng,

To laugh, and dance, and dive with them, and sing the merry song.

I wished I had a little boat—a tiny painted oar,

That I might float upon the sea, far from that sandy shore,

Far, far away, until no sight would meet my kindling eye,

Save the blue ocean at my feet, and the blue boundless sky.

Far off, as far as eye could see, the white-sailed ships did glide

Like spirits o’er the bounding deep, in glory and in pride,

Like light clouds on the ocean’s breast these vessels seemed to be,

For thousand times ten thousand waves rolled between them and me.

O pleasant, pleasant were the hours I spent upon that shore,

Their memory within my heart will linger evermore,

Ay, they will live within this heart among the bright and fair,

The beautiful and sunny things which I have garnered there.