The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 3.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

They raised the cross-wrought mantle,
     The blue, the white, the red;
And straight before the wind off-shore
     The ship of Freedom sped.

‘God help us!’ cried the seamen,
     “For vain is mortal skill:
The good ship on a stormy sea
     Is drifting at its will.”

Then up spake John de Matha:
     “My mariners, never fear!
The Lord whose breath has filled her sail
     May well our vessel steer!”

So on through storm and darkness
     They drove for weary hours;
And lo! the third gray morning shone
     On Ostia's friendly towers.

And on the walls the watchers
     The ship of mercy knew,—
They knew far off its holy cross,
     The red, the white, and blue.

And the bells in all the steeples
     Rang out in glad accord,
To welcome home to Christian soil
     The ransomed of the Lord.