310 MRS. FKY AT NEWGATE riUSON.
"Who held thee on the slippery steep Amid the trial hour.
Who entereth to this dreary cell ?
Who dares yon hardened throng, With fearless step and brow serene,
In simple goodness strong ? She hath a Bible in her hand,
And on her lips the spell Of loving and melodious speech,
Those lion hearts to quell.
She readeth from that Holy Book,
And in its spirit meek, Doth warn them as those straying ones,
Whom Christ vouchsafes to seek ; She kneeleth down, and asketh Him,
Who deigned the lost to find, Back to his blessed fold to lead
These impotent and blind.
Then gently, as the mother lures
Her child from folly s way, Good counsel eloquent she gives,
To guide a future day ; When in the convict-ship they sail,
And sore temptation tries, Or when an exile s lot they bear
Neath Australasian skies.
For soon the dangerous deep they dare ; This is the parting hour ;
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