American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1825-11-15

II was at last like iu band Of instrumental music,
soft, deep, wild, such as have heard playing on
board ship Of war. l heard rushing noise with
the music-and the glorious ghost OF ship went
roaring past me, all illuminated with lamps--her
colours Hying-every sail set, and her decks crowd
ed with men. Perhaps real ship sailed by with les
-tlyi,y on board. Or was it vision 4? Whatever il
was | felt no repinng when it passed me by: 1t
seemed something wholly aenable TO me : the deli
rum swallowed up all fear, all selhshness the past
and future were alike forgotten, and kept footing
along, sefquestioned no longer, assured that was
somehow other a part OF the waves and the tenn.
pest and that the wonderful and beautiful vision that
had sailed by me, was aboriginal creature oil the
OCEAN. There was an unspeakabe pride and gran.
deur in this delirium. | was more intensely con-
scous OF brighter existence than ever was IN the
most glorious dream, and instead Of fearing death,
] felt as il were immortal
This delirium, think, must have gradually sub
sided during kind of sleep, for dImly recollect
mixed images of pain and pleasure, land and sea-
storm and calm, tears and laughter. Thought had
a companion at my side, even her best loved !;
now like an angel comforting me and now like my
self needing to be con.foued, lying on my bosom,
cold drenched, despaiiDg and insane, and uttering
with pale quvering lips the most horrld and dread
full imprecstions. Once heard nethought voice
crying from below the waves, Hast thou forgot
Theresa" And looking down saw something like
the glimmering Of shroud come slowly upwards,
from vast depth to the surface OF the water |
stopped down to embrace it, and in a moment q
CHASTITY blue.swoen face deiestuled horribly, as il
bv gnawng teeth OF sea monsters, dashed against
mine and as it sank again, ] knew well to whom
belonged the black streaming hair. But awoke
The deliriun was gone, aud was at once totally
different creature. awoke into low, heartless,
quaking, quivering, fear haunted cowardly and
weeping dependency, in which all iortitude was
utterly Frustrated. The excitement had worn out
my very soul. A corse rising out OF cold clam
my grave could not have been more wo-begone,
sriritless, boodless. Every thing was seen in its
absolutely dreadful reality. was casaway-no
hope Of rescue. 1t was broad daylight, and the
storm had ceased but clouds lay round the horl-
zon, and no land to be What dreadful
clouds Some black as pitch, and charged with
thunder ;--n,hers like cliffs oil fire; and here and
there all streamed with blood. 1t was indeed
a sullen, wrathful despsiring sky.
The sun itself was a dull brayen orb, cold, dead
and beamless. beheld three ships aar off, but
all their heads were turned away from me- For
whole hours they would adhere motlonless to the
sea- while drlfed away from them: and then
rushing wind would carry them one by one into the
darkness Of the stormy distance. Many birds came
close to me If to flap me with their large spread
ing wings screamed round and round me, and then
flew away in their strength, AID beauty, and happi
ness
now felt myself indeed dying. A calm cam
over me. prayed devouty forgiveness OF my sins
Tor all my friends on earth. A ringing in my
cars, and remember only the hollow fluctuations
OF the sea with which seemed blended, and sink
ing down and down an unfathomabe depth which
thought was Death and into the Kingdom OF the
eternal future.
! awoke from insensbili'y and oblivion with
hldeous racking pain in my head md Ions, and in
place Of utter daikness heard vol, say /" Praise
the Lord My agony dreadful and cried
aloud. Wan, glimmerlne, melancholy lights kept
moving to and fro. A hdeous din was overhead
and around me the fierce dashing Of the waves.
was lying in the cabin oil ship, and kindly tended
by humane and skiilul mani had been picked
up apparently dead and cold. The hand of God
vas there.