THE 
 
 NS27. 
 
 SHIF WRECK ; 
 
 SHOWING 
 
 WHAT SOMETIMES HAPPENS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 SEA COASTS: 
 
 Also giving a Particular Account of 
 
 A POOR SAILOR BOY, 
 
 Wbo was refused any Assistance by the Wreck- 
 ers, and who died in consequence of their In* 
 human Conduct. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 
 
 144 Nassau-street, New- York. 
 
OTCVIWI 
 
 THE SH£?WSLBCS, 
 
 In winter's rude storm, when the tem- 
 pests blow loud, 
 And the hail drives full hard 'gainst 
 the door, 
 
 And babes run together, like Iambs in a 
 crowd, 
 
 And cling to their mother, as, forth from 
 a cloud, 
 Fresh and deep-roaring torrents still 
 pour : 
 
 When wolves through the forest in sa- 
 vageness scowl, 
 And poor lambs cry for help, but in 
 vain ;- — 
 
4 THE SHIPWRECK. [164 
 
 And tigers for slaughter rush forward 
 
 and howl, 
 And wreckers, as cruel, do savagely prowl 
 Round the shores of the dark-troubled 
 
 main : 
 
 'Tis then the poor bark often sinks in the 
 wave, 
 
 And brave Seamen go down to the 
 dead ; 
 
 No harbour, nor vessel, nor mortal to 
 save, 
 
 To snatch one poor soul from a watery 
 grave, 
 Or in pity to hold up his head. 
 
 But, ah ! there are scenes and sad tales 
 yet behind, 
 
 Which may well make our heart-blood 
 run chill ; 
 
 When the poor stranded vessel, long 
 
 press'd by the wind. 
 Is driv'n on shore, but no safety can find 
 From the wreckers, who plunder or 
 kill. 
 
 'Twas gloomy December, and dark was 
 
 the night, 
 And the sky was so wild and so drear,, 
 When to land all the sea birds, with 
 
 screams, urg'd their flight, 
 
1^5] THE SHIPWRECK. 6 
 
 Ere the long-forked stream 7 gan to flash 
 down its light, 
 And the thunders had burst on the ear. 
 
 *Twas then a poor bark was returning 
 from far, 
 After crossing the wide western main, 
 Where oft. through the night-watch each 
 
 long absent Tar 
 Had cast a glad eye on the bright east 
 ern star 
 Which directed his way home again. 
 
 And oft had they mus'd on the long- 
 hop'd-for morn, 
 When the wife and the husband should 
 
 meet; 
 
 When the parents and children, and lo- 
 vers forlorn, 
 
 Should confess, 'midst the troubles to 
 which we are born, 
 There are mingled some portions of 
 sweet. 
 
 But who can now tell what to-morrow 
 may bring, 
 When so frail and uncertain our time i 
 While mirth fills each heart, and so gaily 
 
 we sing, 
 And dream not of danger, or any such 
 
 thin * 
 Qft our days are cut short in their 
 
 prime < 
 
, 
 
 6 THE SHIPWRECK. [168 
 
 So it prov'd with yon crew, who, nearing 
 the land, 
 
 Had concluded their dangers were 
 past, 
 When, lo! their own coast must become 
 
 the fell strand 
 Where Death, in the storm, shall pro- 
 nounce his command, 
 Which numbers that day as their last, 
 
 A long time they strove, both with skill 
 and with might, 
 To surmount all the dangers around ; 
 But torn were their sails in the last dis- 
 mal night, # 
 
 At day-dawn a lee-shore was full in their 
 sight, 
 So they drove on the hard rocky 
 ground. 
 
 Crash, crash, went the bark, as the big 
 waves assail'd, 
 And her masts were plunged over the 
 lee ; 
 
 Then, nor courage nor skill of command- 
 er avail'd, 
 
 Death drew a long 'dart, and o'er many 
 prevaiFd, 
 And, half mangled, they sunk in the 
 sea. 
 
 Now high flew the foam, as it broke o'er 
 their head, 
 
167] THE SHIPWRECK. 7 
 
 And the vessel groan'd under each 
 blow, 
 And the raging- surf rolFd o'er the dying 1 
 
 and dead ; 
 And the rock's craggy cliff was their 
 last lonely bed, 
 When the life-blood had ceased to flow. 
 
 These sights, so afflicting, to ivreckers 
 were dear, 
 Who live by fell rapine and crime ; 
 Whose eyes never shed soft Compas- 
 sion's sweet tear, 
 Whose hearts never learnt e'en their 
 Maker to fear, 
 Or reflect on the end of their time. 
 
 Awhile lash'd to ring-bolts, some few yet 
 remain, , 
 
 And their shrieks rend the pitiless air ; 
 From the wreckers on shore no relief can 
 
 they gain, 
 {They beckon, and call, but they beckon 
 in vain) 
 Who rejoice in the cries of despair. 
 
 Now shore-ward the masts and their 
 
 tackling swing round, 
 And the wreckers begin their glad toil; 
 they curse and blaspheme, while they 
 
 cover the ground 
 
8 THE SHIPWRECK. [168 
 
 With spars, and with sails, and whatever 
 is found ; 
 For each seizes his share of the spoil. 
 
 When the tempest's wild fury had some- 
 time allay'd, 
 They launch'd off, and boarded the 
 bark ; 
 
 Where their hearts and their eyes still 
 on plunder were stay 7 d, 
 
 Though the captain and crew for assist- 
 ance oft pray'd 
 Ere extinct was life's faint, trembling 
 spark. 
 
 Their cords were untied ; but the wet 
 and the frost 
 Had so stifTned their limbs with the 
 cold, 
 That the next breaking wave, as the ves- 
 sel it crossed, 
 Swept them over the side, and they 
 quickly were lost, 
 While the wreckers held on a fast hold, 
 
 One fine youthful Sea Boy alone rode 
 
 the wave, 
 And half lifeless was thrown on the 
 
 sand ; 
 While his captain and comrades had 
 
 each found their grave 
 
 
*69] THE SHIPWRKCK. 9 
 
 Unpitied by wreckers, who strove not to 
 save, 
 
 Or convey them for shelter to land. 
 
 Awhile those on shore throng'd the Ship 
 Boy around, 
 And rudely asked all that he knew; 
 He told them his tale, as he lay on the 
 
 ground, 
 While the blood from his temples a free 
 course had found, 
 And still weaker and fainter he grew. 
 
 Now reviving, he turned his pale cheek 
 
 from the earth, 
 And concluded his sorrowful tale 
 By speaking of her who had given him 
 
 birth, 
 
 A parent of tenderness, piety, and worth, 
 Who lived m a far distant vale. 
 
 " My mother," said he, " she is old and 
 gone blind, 
 But I love her most dearly and true- 
 In my chest some relief for her wants 
 
 you will find — 
 Oh J save it for her who to me was so 
 kind, 
 And the Lord will be kind unto you." 
 
 They heard him, as wolves hear the ewes 
 intercede 
 For the lambkins they torture aa^ 
 Slay j 
 
10 THE SHIPWRECK. [170 
 
 In an instant they left him to faint and 
 
 to bleed, 
 While they grappled his chest from a 
 
 bank of sea-weed, 
 And like harpies they strove for the 
 
 prey. 
 
 The news of a wreck, it soon spread 
 along shore, 
 And women and men ran for gain ; 
 Thus numbers they harden each other 
 
 the more, 
 Till to mercy and justice their hearts 
 close the door, 
 That the love of curst money may 
 reign, 
 
 Anon came the pious old Vicar that way, 
 
 For he heard there was evil abroad : 
 
 Against wrecking, and plundering, for 
 
 many a day 
 He had preach'd ; but, alas ! there were 
 few V obey, 
 Or give heed to his tears or his word. 
 
 Arrived at the spot, what a scene was 
 displayed ! 
 For its numbers 'twas like to a fair ; 
 Dead bodies, and cargo, and trunks 
 
 about lay'd, 
 Or piPd up in heaps where a sentinel 
 stayed ; 
 But, nor mercy nor pity was there. 
 
171] THE SHIPWRECK. 11 
 
 The poor fainting Sea Boy the Vicar 
 espied, 
 With his head lying- hard on a rock ; 
 To aid whose distress, he sat down by 
 
 his side, 
 And many a tear of compassion he cried, 
 While the wreckers continued to mock! 
 
 "Ah! Sir," spake the Sea Boy, " my 
 blood it runs cold, 
 Here life's voyage it shortly must end ; 
 I I shall ne'er see my home, nor my pa- 
 
 rent behold; 
 My tales and adventures for ever are 
 told, 
 I shall never shake hands with a friend. 
 
 "But four days ago, oh! how happy 
 was I, ™ 
 
 And so was our cheerful ship's band ; 
 But, alas ! the rude storm that late howl'd 
 
 in the sky, 
 It has wreck'd our fine bark, and I short- 
 ly must die 
 On the shores of this hard-hearted land. 
 
 u My mother oft said, when the young* 
 ravens cry, 
 
 How kind Heaven some succour still 
 brings ; 
 Ah ! why then give up us poor seamen 
 to die. 
 
 To perish, while men their assistance 
 deny? 
 
12 THE SHIPWRECK. [172 
 
 Do explain, my good Sir, these 
 strange things. 
 
 " My Captain was kind to his lads and 
 his men, 
 And kind was my mistress so dear, 
 That the poor never calPd and were bid 
 
 call again ; 
 Who asked her relief never asked it in 
 vain, 
 For she lov'd to dry misery's tear. 
 
 u But now her kind heart, it will sorrow 
 and break, 
 When she hears the sad tale of our 
 wo; 
 Keen anguish will pour its sharp stream 
 
 down her cheek ; 
 In vain for support to these sharks may 
 she seek ; 
 Down to ruin and death she must go. 
 
 44 And must the young babes of our dead 
 
 plunder'd crew 
 Come and beg for their bread on this 
 
 shore, 
 And be charg'd by the wreckers as idle^ 
 
 untrue ; 
 And be curs'd, and abus'd, as their cry 
 
 they renew, 
 And some food for their hunger im<* 
 
 plore ? 
 
 a Oh, Sir ! can kind Heav'n look on all 
 / the while, 
 
a 
 
 173] THE SHIPWRECK. 13 
 
 And refrain its dread thunders to hurl ? 
 Methinks, its blest spirits would speed 
 
 down, and smile, 
 To inflict their dread anger on wreckers 
 so vile, 
 And all angels their vengeance un- 
 furl." 
 
 "Hush, hush, my dear child, 7 ' cried the 
 pious old man, 
 All was right that was taught in thy 
 youth : 
 From the day yonder sun his bright 
 
 course first began, 
 Has thy Maker pursued one beneficent 
 plan, 
 And his ways are all wisdom and truth. 
 
 " But deep, nay, and dark, they some- 
 times may appear, 
 Yet judgment surrounds his blest 
 throne, 
 Whence he calls thee to trust him, to 
 
 love, and to fear, 
 To submit as a child, while a sojourner 
 here : 
 So far are his purposes known. 
 
 " What though yonder wreckers live out 
 
 a long day, 
 And thyself find an early rough grave; 
 Though the wicked appear to succeed 
 
 in their way, 
 
14 THE SHIPWRECK. [174 
 
 And the kind-hearted Seaman becomes 1 
 their fell prey, 
 Yet the righteous for ever he'll save. 
 
 " Not save from all troubles of life's 
 stormy day, 
 But from evils hereafter to come ; 
 Oft as death finds their feet treading- du- 
 ty's safe way, 
 Still aiming their Saviour to love and 
 obey, 
 He conveys their blest spirits straight 
 
 home, 
 
 "But wo to the wrecker that dies in his 
 sin ! 
 To his soul there no peace can remain ; 
 When his heart fails to beat, Oh! what 
 
 torments begin, 
 The worm, never-dying, shall fasten 
 within, 
 And the flame rage with infinite pain. 
 
 "From realms of despair he shall lift up 
 an eye, 
 And behold the blest spirits above; 
 He shall call out for death, but he never 
 
 shall die ; 
 But shall plunge down the gulf, and m 
 misery lie, 
 While the saints share a heaven o! 
 love. 
 
175] THE SHIPWRECK. 15 
 
 " Nay, on earth, the dread curse often 
 enters his door, 
 And his children they die in ill time ; 
 His wealth is consunVcf, and he, wretch- 
 ed and poor, 
 Can revel in plunder and pillage no 
 more, 
 But must smart in old age for his 
 crime. 
 
 " Oh ! turn then, dear youth, all thy 
 thoughts to the sky, 
 For thy spirit must quickly depart : 
 To the Saviour of sinners direct thy last 
 
 cry- 
 To pardon, and cleanse, and accept, he 
 is nigh ; 
 May his peace now possess thy whole 
 heart." 
 
 So spake the good man, m kind accents, 
 as mild 
 As the zephyrs that fan the still air ; 
 Then he wip'd off the blood from the 
 
 poor dying child, 
 Who, looking to heaven, with confidence, 
 smil'd, 
 And thus uttered his last dying pray- 
 er : — 
 
 "0 Jesus, thou Saviour of sinners below! 
 
 On thy mercy my soul it relies ; 
 Cleanse its stains in thy blood, which so 
 freely did flow ; 
 
16 THE SHIPWRECK. [176 
 
 And, when thou shalt bid it these trou- 
 bles forego, 
 O take it to thee in the skies. 
 
 "Forget not my mother, poor, aged, and 
 blind, 
 Nor leave her to sink down in grief; 
 Let a sense of thy love ever comfort her 
 
 mind, 
 While her Sea Boy lies dead in a land 
 far behind, 
 And can bring her no further relief, 
 
 H O pardon these wreckers, thou God of 
 all grace ! 
 Let their many dark crimes be for 
 given ; 
 Save, save them from wrath, from that 
 
 horrible place, 
 And grant them to see a Redeemer's 
 blest face ; 
 O receive them, in mercy, to heaven !" 
 
 Thus saying, he bow'd his faint head to 
 the ground, 
 And, expiring in peace, clos'd his 
 prayer; 
 His soul, we may hope, will in glory be 
 
 found, 
 Where no cries of distress ever utter 
 their sound. 
 For no pains, no afflictions ,are there. 
 
 R. M. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 I .. ..I .Mil 
 
/ 
 
 
 
/ y 
 
 
 I cent, the 
 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 
 
 In addition to a very extensive 
 series of duodecimo Tracts, in differ- 
 ent languages, Occasional Volumes, 
 &c, have published a large variety 
 of Children's Books, among which 
 are the following : 
 
 Series IV.. ..FoL L...32 j p , s....l8mo. 
 
 1. A Memoir of Thomas Hamitah 
 
 Patoo. 
 
 2. History of Lucy Jackson, 
 
 3. History of Honest Roger. 
 
 4. History of the English Bible. 
 
 5. Life of Mary Mordant. 
 
 6. History of Jacob Newman* 
 
 7. The Cottage Girl. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 8. Little Ann. 
 
 9. History of Peter Thomson. 
 10 The Village School. 
 
 11. Scripture Parables, in verse. 
 
 12. The Fourth of July. 
 
 13. Memoir of David Acheson,. Jun. 
 
 14. A Catechism on the Commands. 
 
 VOL. III. 
 
 15. The Simple Flower. 
 
 •i 
 
 ,/i