Wandering Will ; a Story of Adventure, founded on Fact.
(Remington.)—The author of this volume has a decided power of writing in a readable fashion. He tells the story of his boyhood in a cathedral city with some touches of humour, and interests us much when he proceeds to relate bow, having reached the mature age of sixteen, he proceeded to seek his fortune as an emigrant. His experiences on board the emigrant ship are graphically described, as are his adventures in America in search of a livelihood, which, it is hardly needful to say, he finds only by the kindness of some with whom he comes in contact, and from the vain search for which he is glad enough to return. We should shrink from the responsibility of encouraging a young man who has made one unhappy venture to try the thankless occupation of verse-writing; but with this caution, shall do ourselves and our readers the pleasure of transferring the following very pretty lines from "Wandering Will's" story to our pages :—
" As the years pass away, and the dawning of day
Flickers faintly ahead ; And we see with glad eyes, that each hour as it fl:es Brings us nearer our dead ; When by hope long deferred, the first whisper is heard
Of release from our pain,—
And each beart-palse is stirred, as a spray by a bird,
With the far-away strain,—
We awake and rejoice at the comforting voice, Who have slumbered and slept ; We rise up and are glad, who so long have been sad, Who have murmured and wept. We are no more afraid, e'en our longing is stayed,-
'Tis enough ! He has said,—
If we patiently wait, He will open the gate That elicloses our dead.
If we faint, He can cheer ; if we fall, He is near, With an ever-stretched hand, The weak hearts to enfold in His arms, and to hold The firm-hearted who stand.
So the years pass away ; lot us work while we may. At the work He doth send ; When our loved ones we meet at our Saviour's feet, We may rest without end!"
Previous page
