Hang fearful o'er the darkened sky; 

 And o'er the dim and shadowy deep, 

 Yawning, presents a deathful leap. 

 The boy has gained that desperate brink, 

 And not a moment will he think 

 Of all the hopes, and joys, and fears 

 That are entwined in his young years. 

 The old man stretched his arms in air, 

 And vainly warned him to forbear: 

 Oh! stay, my child, in mercy stay, 

 And mark the dread abyss beneath; 

 Destruction wings thee on thy way, 

 And leads thee to an awful death. 

 He said no more, for on the air 

 Rose the deep murmuring of despair; 

 One shriek of agonizing woe 

 Broke on his ear, and all was o'er; 

 For midst the waves' eternal flow, 

 The boy had sank to rise no more. 

 When springing from the dizzy steep, 

 Prev. P 32/107 next