The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-06-28
THE B1NNACLE.

The following narrative is from the lips Of
seaman. as related on board of a vessel up
on the Atlantic when indications OF storm
were upon the heavens, similar to those dis
closed in the tale. To transplant il. from
the scenes and circumstances Of its delivery,
detracts much from its effect. The scenery
adds to the play, and both are dependent
for their interest sting qualities upon the state
Of the listner's mind Let him who has but
4 single touch OF romance in his composition,
imagine himself on the relentless deep, a
way from all that he holds dear, subjected to
the dominion of wind and wave, and passing
vacant hour among the sailors on the fore
castle. listening to their wild tales OF storm
and death, and he may then have faint idea
Of that mute attention which was bestowed
upon this simple story. The author pre-
tends to no other credit than that which IS
due to mere translator.
"a light in the binnacle." This order
was given in that pcremtory manner, winch
shows that man is either i'll at ease With
himself, or with those peculiar circumstan
ces in which he is then involved he, from
whose lips this order came, knew not but
that it might be deemed unman!Y IN him 20
begin. at that moment, to guard against the
worst. The top-mast had been struck, the
rigging coiled away in the most seamanllke
stvIe. and the sun had now sunk beneath
chaos Of pillory clouds leaving scarce star
! as a sentinel to watch over the dreary waste
of waters. Yet to the inexperienced eye,
there was nothing to warrant any prepara-
tion against the approaching tempest. n
summer evening breeze gently fliieo tne
reefed foresail, and the helmsman was wafn
| ling snatches of sea songs, lnterningled WIN
sundry and divers musical carrlcatures OF
Auld Lang Sync.
| But the captain and mate were observed
to converse together in low tones, ana oitch
TO look at the rigging, and to cast stolen
elances towards the sky, which was 'heh
diving every object with fearful CRIMSON
The expiring sunlight, as it tell upon the
face of CAPTAIN Sears, gave IN deep outiihe'
one Of those expressive countenances, WIZ"
is frequently found among the seamen oilN.N
| England. and one could almost trace the
marks of the storm on his weather-ocd'e"
visaec. On board of his ship he was per
feet autocrat; but in the bosom OF MS fan'''5'
or in the social circle, he was the u'aneG
ed, amiable sailor pretending 10 hot','ns ~
art or science higher than the truch' VI
decper than the keel of his own Vesset'--
| There was a beam in his eye, at the mo",eh'
of which VIC have been speaking aliieu ~
both of these qualities--a note OF prepara.'o" y,
seemed to ring from his strong nerves, whhe
stoiakism, as to the result. Hl.sh. nav
been drawn from his open ana feariess eou''-
tenance The sailors followed with their
eyes the direction of his looks and gestures,
and with sedulous haste obeyed his orders,
90 q;vrn through the medium of the mates,
4 Gradual increasc of the breeze was no
t;ced and the hesitation of the eemmander
seemed changed from doubt to certainty
He turned to a Young man near him, ana
said in an under tone, "do you mark that
Wonder plim has shut in, that those clouds
are condensed, and do you see that teathery
maze approaching us at the rate OF twenty
knots an hour, upon cur weather hows
uAnd what them" was the reply.
aWhat thene--you do not pretend TO De
;enorant that an eqnnoctial gale VIII bc
likely to give us wet birth for superior
tba, Il is now coming on as though the very
devil directed it? Come Monsieur Melan-
choly. give us a specimen of your manhooa
Won are aware that my jack tars VIII STAND
nv me as long as spike hoids; !e. they
love your jacknifc better than my whole car
case-cheer up, give bad luck TO the ",hus'
and help us to port, and VINO knows oue nap
piness may await you.
"! would rather" soloquised the young
man. "be gaspins in those dark waters
which are now rising in anger around me-
and grope my way in those still coral cav cav
erns which are yawning beneath me. was
not horn to a fortune, and have not en-
drred penury?-yVcre not these hands once
soft soft with luxury, and are they not now hard
sned bv toil> Did not love thee, Mary.
and and vert not thou, my bud of bliss. blightedl
bv misfortunee Art thou not the BRIDE Of OF
another, Why is it, that, heartiess myse.i,
others attach themselves to me, merely 10
ts Drawn into that vortex Of ruin, which
na mne e1s~" own going down has created' home
under these troubled waves. were better
than anu,, to live thing without hope, under
seeming ser fair sky Of peace, when ;.,i1 the hery
demon of despair is burning all w''nln IT
Yet these poor fellows , love ''e''
lfe-I must save them"
" He started from his musng posture ano
:, was as if lightning had flashed across tha