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| A NOBLE life is in thy care, | |
| A sacred trust to thee is given; | |
| Bright Island! let thy healing air | |
| Be to him as the breath of Heaven. | |
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| The marvel of his daring life— | 5 |
| The self-forgetting leader bold; | |
| Stirs, like the trumpet’s call to strife, | |
| A million hearts of meaner mould. | |
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| Eyes that shall never meet his own | |
| Look dim with tears across the sea, | 10 |
| Where from the dark and icy zone, | |
| Sweet Isle of Flowers! he comes to thee. | |
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| Fold him in rest, O pitying clime! | |
| Give back his wasted strength again; | |
| Soothe, with thy endless summer time, | 15 |
| His winter-wearied heart and brain. | |
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| Sing soft and low, thou tropic bird, | |
| From out the fragrant, flowery tree,— | |
| The ear that hears thee now has heard | |
| The ice-break of the winter sea. | 20 |
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| Through his long watch of awful night, | |
| He saw the Bear in Northern skies; | |
| Now, to the Southern Cross of light | |
| He lifts in hope his weary eyes. | |
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| Prayers from the hearts that watched in fear, | 25 |
| When the dark North no answer gave, | |
| Rise, trembling, to the Father’s ear, | |
| That still His love may help and save. | |
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