POETRY.

THE CUTTERS.

They that go down to the sea in shipe . . . These see the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep."—Peal. 107. 23-4.

"But they that go down to the sea in cutters see Hell."—Anen. (American).

" I art a singer of songs, then " . .

" What is the song you would sing?" .

"Only an old song—the song of the sea, and a whistling wind sweeping over it, over it; Only the song of the sky in the night, and the moon in a ragged black curtain to cover it.

Those who go down in the great ships His thundering wonders compel ;

They praise Hint in fear—thirty foot in the sheer!" . "But the cutters, the cutters see Hell!"

" Be not afraid, 0 ye cutters !" . . .

" But we be timorous men ; We are all wet, and the lash of the blast is a wall of chill terror to blind us and baffle us, Shuffled as straws in the pot of the gods—and with Death as

the drawer to draw us and raffle us—

Who shall give heed to the cutters?" . . . "We have known terror as well ; Come ye aboard; for we trust in the Lord" " But Ire; we are found'ring in Hell!"

" Cease to blaspheme, 0 ye cutters !

Hold by the hawser we throw.

From our high deck ye shall see as she swinge, to the roll of the combers, the lights flash to lighten ye Tar o'er the welter o' wind-whitened wave; and the storm

breath of Death here no longer shall frighten ye—

Flee from your perilous vessels—Look to the tale that we tell; The haven we sight, reaching up thro' the night" -"But the cutters, the cutters sight Hell !"

" Yet are ace singers of songs, then" . •

" What is the song you would sing?"

-" Only an old song—a song of the sea, and a swift hurtling terror of darkness to cover it; Only the song of our fear and the dark . .

We were straitly encharged to sail these things over it."

G. F. GROGAN.