The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-06-28
JUME 2B, 1927


mantop, bowsprit, and in every part of the
ship, almost at the same instant. The ex'
citement was such that an indifferent OBJ
server would have thought that all was in
sport--that a visitor was coming, or mcr-
ry y-making on foot. The captain and mate
seemed to have delegated their authority,
and Frederick the moving cause OF all which
I followed. An instant of stiffness occurred
after all was done, when Frederick walked
leisurely up to the captain. and putting otf
! all restraint, grasped his hand, and in the
lofty tone of despair. urged him to state
when (if every he should see his Mary; that
she was the last object upon which his
earthly thoughts rested. The pressure was
warmly returned with the reply
1--WE have TOO long (duty to the contrary
notwithstanding kept ourselves as stiah-
gers; should not survive, you will fnd that
| have remembered you. But ! must at
tend to my duties. Assist me--look at yon
mist, created by the storm, as 1t takes OF
The tops Of the sea. Farewell"
| Frederick repaired to his station, and
viewed calmly the tornado as it came on.--
Then were the unearthlv sounds OF contest
heard. as the winds and waters met in their
4 Hght the frightened sea-bird, as she He'd
4 from the mad onset, was heard screaming
! in the distance; the saddened look OF the
! sailor, as he watched the approach ct the
4 elementary army, betokened thoughts OF his
1 far home aud hre-side ali seemed like that
instant, when the victim S neck Is ready and
before the fatal axe falls Yet Frederick
cast but glance at the mast, aud again set
tied into a reveric, as an Indifferent specta-
tor at the work of the Almighty.
The first shock carcened the ship almost
TO level with the sea--she then went ma
iestically onward, triumphing over the wa
ters like warrior IN tho pride OF victory
But onward and more turlously came the
! foes. Brace after brace snapped--sea AFTER
sea swept the decks, as if sea and air were
contcnding for the prize. he cheering
shonts Of Frederick rose amid the roar and
crash Of elements, until one wave, more vio-
lent than the rest, tore the captain from the
deck and he was seen amid the froth. strug-
cling IN the aronics Of death. There was
Wild Shrek which burst from the crew, as
the shin settled under its burthen of waters,
and az she arose from the blow, not particle
,f rigging was standing-thc masts were
over the side, and the decks swept clearly
&c thourh some tremendous machine had At
one onset, severed each timber and stanchel.
The mate looked fearfully to the situation OF
the captain. and then turned his eye to-
wards the place where Frederick had stood.
In moment he saw the latter hutietins his
way toward the former, having IN his hand
The topgallant yard, and apparently SWIM
ming from the vessel. Two scas more
brought the captain on deck. nearlv ex-
bausted. who murmured "Frederlck, and
! became insensiblc.
The palc died away by degrees, though
,he sweIl of the sea still continued, and the
next morning dawned upon mastess bark'
which Law in her efficiency upon the billows,
with spars floating all around her. disa-
bled shin. with but bare forcmast stand-
ing. was seen caprioling upon the waves
astern and the elements were gradually arc
slowly subsidng.
Cantain Sears feelings were so goaded
that he was almost driven made, when ne
recolected that his young companion had
sacrificed himself upon the alter OF romantic
friendship. The last words which he heara
from Frcderek's lips, while they were on
the waves together, were continually ring
ing in his cars, ''you have competence ana
domestic attachments--.I have ncither--take
this and be saved" -
Jurymasts we're raised, repairs mace, the
sailors lamented the fate OF their beloved
comrade, and, at last, their destined poft
was reached in safety.
cannot describe Mary. 1t is well known
that a coincidence exists between mans
life and the seas and wnds-upon the ocean,
in one latitude, the breath of heaven strs
not its face "too roughly, iii another, there
are the demons of destruction raging IN their
fiercest mood With man 1t is thus--to-day |
his course is that of placid river-to- NOR
row, what once was peace, is thrown INTO
commotion, and the original beauty is chang
ed. On the evening of the shipwreck, Ma
ry was strolling in uneasy listlessness upon
the margin of the sea, entirely unconscious
that e, ery part of it was not as quiet as that
which met her gaze. ! cannot describe Ma
~. as have SAID; but she was one who
seemed born to cheer, and not sadden--there
was ioyousness 10 her dark eye, yet sor-
row dwelt around her lip. 1t was not that
her rnclets were glossy--not that her
cheeks wore the hue of health: have seen
MANY such, aud forgotten them; but 1T was
the combination of all her features, set OFT by
lovely form, which interested as whole,
and which. once seen, would have been held
nm. not as standard of beauty, but as pro-
totype of being by whom man would wish
to be beloved. Her thoughts were upon the
sea--upon one ship which was daily expect
ed.
The moon was then shining upon the
white tops of the bounding wave; the dis
tant cloud Just blushed the edge OF the horl-
zon with the damask tinge of lightning, and
+ha mild wind as it threw back her raven