AND THE

XCVIII. THE BLIND MEN AND

ELEPHANT.

SAXE.

[John Godfrey Saxe was born in Franklin County, Vermont, in 1816, and was graduated at Middlebury College in 1839. He is a lawyer by profession, and is well known by his humorous poetry, much of which has attained great and deserved popularity.]

1. It was six men of Indostan,
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the elephant
(Though all of them were blind),

That each by observation

Might satisfy his mind.

2. The first approached the elephant,
And happening to fall

Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl,

"Why, bless me! but the elephant
Is very like a wall!"

3. The second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, "Ho! what have we here

So very round, and smooth, and sharp?
To me 'tis very clear,
This wonder of an elephant
Is very like a spear!"

4. The third approached the animal,
And happening to take

The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up he spake:

"I see," quoth he, "the elephant
Is very like a snake!"

5. The fourth reached out his eager hand, And felt about the knee:

"What most this wondrous beast is like,
Is very plain," quoth he;
""Tis clear enough the elephant
Is very like a tree!"

6. The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said, "E'en the blindest man

Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an elephant
Is very like a fan!"

7. The sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,

Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,

I see," quoth he, "the elephant
Is very like a rope!"

8. And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,

Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,

Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!

MORAL.

9. So, oft in theologic1 wars,
The disputants,2 I ween,3
Rail on in utter ignorance

Of what each other mean,

And prate about an elephant

Not one of them has seen!

1 THE-Q-LŎĢ'IC. Pertaining to theology | WEEN. Think; imagine. or divinity.

2 DIS/PU-TĂNTS. Those who dispute or

argue.

XCIX.- JOHN MAYNARD.

ANONYMOUS.

1. 'Twas on Lake Erie's broad expanse,
One bright midsummer day,
The gallant steamer Ocean Queen
Swept proudly on her way.
Bright faces clustered on the deck,
Or, leaning o'er the side,

Watched carelessly the feathery foam
That flecked1 the rippling tide.

2. Ah, who beneath that cloudless sky,
That smiling bends serene,

Could dream that danger, awful, vast,
Impended2 o'er the scene

Could dream that ere an hour had sped

That frame of sturdy oak

Would sink beneath the lake's blue waves,

Blackened with fire and smoke?

3. A seaman sought the captain's side,
A moment whispered low :

The captain's swarthy face grew pale;
He hurried down below.

Alas, too late! Though quick, and sharp,
And clear, his orders came,
No human efforts could avail

To quench th' insidious flame.

4. The bad news quickly reached the deck,
It sped from lip to lip,

And ghastly faces everywhere
Looked from the dooméd ship.

"Is there no hope

no chance of life?"

A hundred lips implore.

"But one," the captain made reply

"To run the ship on shore."

5. A sailor whose heroic soul

That hour should yet reveal,

By name John Maynard, eastern born,
Stood calmly at the wheel.

"Head her south-east!" the captain shouts,

66

Above the smothered roar;

Head her south-east without delay!
Make for the nearest shore !

6. No terror pales the helmsman's cheek, Or clouds his dauntless eye,

As in a sailor's measured tone

His voice responds, "Ay, ay!"

Three hundred souls, the steamer's freight,

Crowd forward, wild with fear,

While at the stern the dreadful flames

Above the deck appear.

7. John Maynard watched the nearing flames,
But still, with steady hand,
He grasped the wheel, and steadfastly
He steered the ship to land.

"John Maynard, can you still hold out?"
He heard the captain cry;

A voice from out the stifling smoke
Faintly responds, "Ay, ay!"

8. But half a mile! A hundred hands
Stretch eagerly to shore.

But half a mile! That distance sped,
Peril shall all be o'er.

But half a mile! Yet stay; the flames
No longer slowly creep,

But gather round the helmsman bold
With fierce, impetuous sweep.

9. "John Maynard," with an anxious voice,
The captain cries once more,

"Stand by the wheel five minutes yet,

And we will reach the shore."

Through flames and smoke that dauntless heart
Responded firmly still,

Unawed, though face to face with death,

"With God's good help I will!"

10. The flames approach with giant strides; They scorch his hands and brow;

One arm disabled seeks his side :

Ah, he is conquered now!