Rich men , who grind the faces of the poor , remember that this soul will one day be required of you ! Dear Lord , let not this little sparrow fall to the ground ! Help , Christian men and women , in the name of Him whose birthday blessed the world ! ' `` Ah me ! I rang , and clashed , and cried in vain . The passers-by only said , as they hurried home , laden with Christmas cheer : ` The old bell is merry to-night , as it should be at this blithe season , bless it ! ' `` As the clocks struck ten , the poor child lay down , saying , as she drank the last bitter draught life could give her , ` It 's very cold , but soon I shall not feel it ; ' and with her quiet eyes fixed on the cross that glimmered in the moonlight above me , she lay waiting for the sleep that needs no lullaby . `` As the clock struck eleven , pain and poverty for her were over . It was bitter cold , but she no longer felt it . She lay serenely sleeping , with tired heart and hands , at rest forever . As the clocks struck twelve , the dear Lord remembered her , and with fatherly hand led her into the home where there is room for all . To-day I rung her knell , and though my heart was heavy , yet my soul was glad ; for in spite of all her human woe and weakness , I am sure that little girl will keep a joyful Christmas up in heaven . '' In the silence which the spirits for a moment kept , a breath of softer air than any from the snowy world below swept through the steeple and seemed to whisper , `` Yes ! '' `` Avast there ! fond as I am of salt water , I do n't like this kind , '' cried the breezy voice of the fourth spirit , who had a tiny ship instead of a tassel on his cap , and who wiped his wet eyes with the sleeve of his rough blue cloak . `` It wo n't take me long to spin my yarn ; for things are pretty taut and ship-shape aboard our craft . Captain Taylor is an experienced sailor , and has brought many a ship safely into port in spite of wind and tide , and the devil 's own whirlpools and hurricanes . If you want to see earnestness come aboard some Sunday when the Captain 's on the quarter-deck , and take an observation . No danger of falling asleep there , no more than there is up aloft , ` when the stormy winds do blow . ' Consciences get raked fore and aft , sins are blown clean out of the water , false colors are hauled down and true ones run up to the masthead , and many an immortal soul is warned to steer off in time from the pirates , rocks and quicksands of temptation .
He 's a regular revolving light , is the XXXXX , -- a beacon always burning and saying plainly , ` Here are life-boats , ready to put off in all weathers and bring the shipwrecked into quiet waters . '
Captain Lord day fourth hurricanes knell masthead quarter-deck to-night whirlpools