The Noble Sailor

The Noble Sailor

The occurrence her related took place during the great conflagration in New York, December 16, 1835.

It was a fearful night,

The strong flame fiercely sped

From street to street, from spire to spire.

And on their treasures fed;

Hark! - 'tis a mother's cry,

High o'er the tumult wild,

As rushing toward her flame-wrapt home,

She shriek's - My child! my child!'

A wanderer from the sea,

A stranger mark'd her woe,

And in his generous bosom woke

The sympathetic glow;-

Swift up the burning stairs

With daring feet he flew,

While sable clouds of stifling smoke

Conceal'd him from the view.

Fast fell the blazing beams

Across his dangerous road.

Til the far chamber where he grop'd

Like fiery oven glow'd.

But what a pealing shout!

When from the wreck he came, -

And in his arms a smiling babe

Still toying with the flame.

The mother's raptur'd tears

Forth like a torrent sped,

Yet ere the throng could learn his name,

That noble tar had fled!

Not for the praise of man

Did he this deed of love, -

But on a bright unfading page

'Tis register's above.

Hartford.

L.H.S. (Lydia Huntley Sigourney)

2:24, p. 2

1837.06.17

From the Maine Monthly Magazine: The occurence here related took place during the great conflabration in New York, December 16, 1835