The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-12-19

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cracking flames, now and then could h
neard the PRAYERS and agonizing shreks {
this pitiable group.
men rose from sea TO sky the wild farewell
men shrieked the tlmid and stood still the brav,
hen some leaped overheard with dreadful vel
} as eager to anticipate their grave
, some OF the sailors, aware that Their
was on board considerable quantity O
powder, fastened to throw themselves int,
lhe sea, with such articles of furniture Al
lives.
Not laI distant from this ocean volcano
lay the almost unmanageable bout of Lit
tieton-hlmself apparently Indifferent Il
| his tate. One dreadful explosion. one louc
shrek was heard ten thousand fragment.
OF the burning vessel sparkled for mo
save the fierce hiss of the qaehdFas sahlf5
or when
- At intervals, there gushed,
accompanied with convulsive splash,
solitary shrek, the bubblng crv
VI some strong swimmer in his agony."
Several pieces of the vessel fell close bv
the side OF Littleton's boat, and in connex-
ion with one, he discovered living beino.
1t was female, in the last struggle of
suifocatlon. He seized the body. and part
~ raised it from the water; the moon
shone full and bright upon the face It
was the pale, emaciated, but still beautiful
face OF his once adored Elizabeth. He
gazed intensely upon it for an instant, his
arms dropped palsied by his side; he reel
ed and fell PROSTATE in the boat the al
most llfeless body Of the unfortunate girl
sank gently beneath the waves, and rose
no more The victim of an ardent attach
ment Tor an unworthy object, she had
sought IN company with her humble but
fond father, relief from disease and mel
ancholy, IN the mild air of the south. to
Which she was now adding the promised
advantage of sea voyage.
Llttleton lay that night in state of in
senslblllty. The morning never dawned
upon more miserable being. He raised
himself, and looked abroad upon the wide
waste Of waters. No object either living
or dead met his eye. In his reveries, the
torments OF the wicked conyulsed his bo-
som; the boundless sky and water seemed
to spread eternity before him: the bright
sun, rising majestlcally from the ocean
towards the high Heavens, seemed to him
emblematlcal of the onward flight of the
pure spirit of Elizabeth, which, but few
hours before, had gone as his accuser to
the regions of Immortality. A waveess
calm overspread the deep throughout the
day, and, without the means, or the
strength, to propel his boat, exhausted by
fatigue and agonized by the goading of
his conscience, he lay in his moveless bark
--~~-i - l:r, -iy, So
covered by vessel bound for New Or
leans, whether she carried him. Friend
less, pennyless, and unknown, he was here
cast upon the charity of the world. Dis
ease, severe and protracted, ensued, and,
after the lapse of several months, like the
prodigal son, he set out in sickness, penury,
and distress, for his fathers house. BY the
aid of private charities, he was enabled to
reach this city, but in state of too much
exhaustion to proceed any farther.
Such are substantially the incidents in
the life of Littleton, as related to me upon
our last interview. At that time he APP
| peared calm, but without that heavenly Sc
renity that marks the last moments of a
Virtuous man. There was small pocket
bible near his bedside, and he spoke with
some anxiety, if not perturbation, Of his
approaching dissolution-expressing wish
to converse with minister of the gospel
| called on the Rev. Mr.. -, who visited
him, twice before his death. AS | ap-
preached the hospital, some days after.
wards, | observed the hearse returning
from Potter's Field. 1t had Just commit
ted to that city of the dead, the wastec
body of the miserable Littleton. He sleep:
among strangers, in an unknown grave,
+" And leaves Corsairs name to other times
Mkt with few virtues and thousand crimes