The Ark And The Dove.

A rain once fell upon the earth
    For many a day and night,
And hid the flowers, the grass, the trees,
    The birds and beasts, from sight.

The deep waves covered all the land,
    And mountain-tops so high;
And nothing could be seen around,
    But water, and the sky.

But yet there was one moving thing,--
    A still and lonely ark,--
That, many a weary day and night,
    Sailed o'er that ocean dark.

At last, a little dove was forth
    From that lone vessel sent;
But, wearied, to the ark again,
    When evening came, she bent.

Again she went, but soon returned,
    And in her beak was seen
A little twig--an olive-branch--
    With leaves of shining green.

The waters sank, and then the dove
    Flew from the ark once more,
And came not back, but lived among
    The tree-tops, as before.

Then from the ark they all came forth,
    With songs of joy and praise;
And once again the green earth smiled
    Beneath the sun's warm rays.