Down on the shore, on the stormy shore! Beset by a growling sea, Whose mad waves leap on the rocky steep Like wolves up a traveller's tree: Where the foam flies wide, and an angry blast Blows the curlew off, with a screech; Where the brown sea-wrack, torn up by the roots, Is flung out of fishes' reach; And the tall ship rolls on the hidden shoals, And scatters her planks on the beach; Where slate and straw through the village spin, And a cottage fronts the fiercest din With a sailor's wife sitting sad within, Hearkening the wind and the water's roar, Till at last her tears begin. [Illustration] THE BUBBLE. SEE, the pretty Planet! Floating sphere! Faintest breeze will fan it Far or near; World as light as feather; Moonshine rays, Rainbow tints, together, As it plays; Drooping, sinking, failing, Nigh to earth, Mounting, whirling, sailing, Full of mirth; Life there, welling, flowing, Waving round; Pictures coming, going, Without sound. Quick now! be this airy Globe repell'd! Never can the fairy Star be held. Touch'd--it in a twinkle Disappears! Leaving but a sprinkle, As of tears. [Illustration] [Illustration] NICK SPENCE. NICK SPENCE, Nick Spence, Sold the Cow for sixpence! When his Master scolded him, Nicky didn't care. Put him in the farmyard, The stableyard, the stackyard, Send him to the pigsty, And Johnny to the fair! [Illustration] AMBITION. THE Sea! as smooth as silk, And the froth of it like new milk, And the sky a wonderful blue, The cliff harebells have it too, And scatter'd all over the shore A thousand Children or more! Suppose we join, one-will'd, A City of Sand to build, With a rampart broad and strong From rock to rock along, Solid and firm enough To last till the sea grows rough And the days turn chilly and short, The end of our seaside sport, When all must bundle and pack And swift in the train go back, Big folk and little folk, To London lamps and smoke? Let's draw out our plan to-night, Begin it with morning light. We'll bring all the Children together And build in the sweet sunny weather. What use in a House of Sand? But a City--that _would_ be grand! O yes, I am sure it will stand! And I, who first thought of the thing, Perhaps they will make me King? [Illustration] THE BALL. ALL men, black, brown, red, yellow, white Are brethren in their Father's sight. To do each other good is right, But not to wrangle, steal, or fight.