THE TALISMAN | AdventAI

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1860

THE TALISMAN.

This motto I give to the young and the old— More precious by far than a treasure of gold, 'Twill prove to its owner a talisman rare, More potent than magic: 'tis, "Never despair."

No; never despair! whatsoe'er be thy lot, If fortune's gay sunshine illumine it not; 'Mid its gloom, and despite its dark burden of care, If thou canst not be cheerful, yet never despair.

Oh! what if the sailor a coward should be, When the tempest comes down in its wrath on the sea, And the mad billows leap like wild beasts from their lair, To make him their prey if he yield to despair.

But see him amid the fierce strife of the waves, When around his frail vessel the storm-demon raves, How he rouses his soul up to do and to dare; And while there is life left, will "never despair!"

Thou, too, art a sailor—and time is the sea, And life the frail vessel that upholdeth thee; Fierce storms of misfortune will fall to thy share, But like thy bold prototype, "never despair!"

Let not the wild tempest thy spirit affright, Shrink not from the storm, though it comes in its might; Be watchful, be ready, for shipwreck prepare, Keep an eye on the life-boat, but "never despair."