We Determined, However, To Bear Up
Manfully Against Our Ill-Fortune, And Trust To That Providence Which
Never Deserts Those Who Do Not Forget Their Own Duties In Trying
Circumstances.
It is curious how, on such occasions, some stray stanzas which hang
about the outskirts of the memory, will
Suddenly come to our aid.
Thus, I often caught myself humming over some of the verses of that
excellent moral song "The Pilot," and repeating, with a peculiar
emphasis, the concluding lines of each stanza,
"Fear not! but trust in Providence,
Wherever thou may'st be."
Such songs do good; and a peculiar blessing seems to attend every
composition, in prose or verse, which inculcates good moral
sentiments, or tends to strengthen our virtuous resolutions. This
fine song, I feel assured, will live embalmed in the memory of
mankind long after the sickly, affected, and unnatural ditties of
its author have gone to their merited oblivion. Sometimes, however,
in spite of my good resolutions, when left alone, the dark clouds of
despondency would close around me, and I could not help contrasting
the happy past in our life with my gloomy anticipations of the
future. Sleep, which should bring comfort and refreshment, often
only aggravated my painful regrets, by recalling scenes which had
nearly escaped my waking memory. In such a mood the following verses
were written: -
OH, LET ME SLEEP!
Oh, let me sleep! nor wake to sadness
The heart that, sleeping, dreams of gladness;
For sleep is death, without the pain -
Then wake me not to life again.
Oh, let me sleep!
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