Santa Rosa High School - Echo Yearbook (Santa Rosa, CA)

Page 33 text:

THE PORCUPINE 3 “But life-men never go to fight Unless they challenge death, And men like these hope only leaves When hand in hand with breath. E’en when we'd reached the treach’rous spot, We feared we were too late, For darkness spoke departed life, The waves were bells of fate. “But suddenly a blinding fiash Flame-rent the angry sky, And ship and crew rose from the deep Before each anxious eye. “And looking up from where we were, Right close we heard a wail, And saw a frenzied figure leap From off the pitching rail, “Then soon upon a crested wave I saw a basket float, And round its sides, and o’er the top Was wrapped a woman’s cloak. “With boat hook, reaching carefully, I drew it to my side, And found it held a sleeping babe, Wrapped softly for his ride. “Oh, fate! how close we have to look To call thy judgments right; This mother’s leaped to certain death With rescuers in sight. “Ah, Jad! the rest is old to you— You’ve heard it oftentime— Your mother, lad, and that great ship Alone remained behind.

Page 32 text:

THE PORCUPINE “It was not long they had to wait, lor soon above the storm The low boom of a signal gun To our strained ears were borne. “Then quick from out the inky dark Burst forth a flaming sign, The last sad cry our seamen make Before they cross the line. “Three times we strove to launch the boat; Three times we strove in vain; Then with the strength born of despair We charged the seas again. “Tor five long minutes battled we Ere victory was ours; And we shot through the angry sea, While spray came down in showers. “T’or two score years and ten I’ve fought The angry, storm-swept sea, And in that time ’twas ne’er so rough As then it seemed to me. “It took the skill of strength and years Of men raised on the deep, To keep that faithful, steady craft (‘rom sinking with each sweep. “Oh! how we fought with all our might To reach that dying ship, While death looked on with smiling gaze, Lest foot or hand should slip. “We struggled long, so hard it was, An hour slowly passed, And each succeeding plunge we took Appeared to be our last. $n

Page 34 text:

roar. mans. Eli: Miss Wirt (Eng. VI ): THE PORCUPINE And nothing of your home. As for your relatives, my lad, Their lives were never known. “By sailor’s laws of ownership You rightfully were mine; 1 sometimes think ’twas Providence That sent you at that time. “Not many days before you came Our own dear laddie died. He was about your tender age; Our life, our very pride. “So when I brought you to our home There seemed to come again New life and hapiness to us, Who, then, had known but pain. “My boy, I lie awake at night, And tremble lest there come Some one to claim you as his right And rob us of a son. “And lad, if you should leave us now, Twould break our poor old hearts, “For he who brought us life and joy Takes both when he departs.” aS ant I Description of a chem. recitation: One pS oy, hae Who wrote that book? “The sailors brave knew naught of you, continuous You will find the text in Ro- —