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.