Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-01-01
THE LAST OF THE YEAR.
From lie PortLand .9drertiser.

lis the erca, Characteristic of a good seaman,
to keen his ship and his r.ckonings in such
sia,e of perfection, as will enable him 10 meet
a Storm q, any moment, without either frars or
doubts In pleasant weather, he is always on
the ale,t; the ship from the waters edge 10 the
royal tru, K. undergoes the sc, ere examination
Of seamar's eye No imperfectlon escapes
him. Nothing is left un6"nr What ough: to hr
done. ahdxaptbing put of for tomorrow that
Can be done tosday. The s,rictest attention is
paid to the ships way; the events OF each hour
are noted in book kept for that purpose, so
thai he Can look back at the days or the weeks
nd and see whar he has been doing, and where
I've wa, when any important event took place
No opportunity escapes, for determining the
rue situation If the ship, it on a long voyage
he has 10 pass many lapd-falis, which Is not
nrrruuentv the case. These opportunities
tol ectiog his journal pass not by unim-
proved. II hr find his reckoning in error, he
proves, and if necessity, corrects his instru-
mrnis tries his compasses-r KAN ines bis Jour-
nal, and thus cnd-avors to frd where the error
| ORIGINATED SO iha, he NAV be enabled TO avoid
simila, ores in future. BY strictly adhering to
hesc rules, he is enabled, generally, to make
his destined port with certainty and enter it
with safety But bv negecting his duty, by
at ending, neither to the ship, or the way she
lis making, his journal may be incorrect, he
INV have been thrown ont of his course by
currents He knows nothing, he can know no.
thing e her rue sitU alton, and il overiaken by
a storm, he may be driven, unex Jectediy upon
the rocks, o, sands Of some unknown coast,
where no arm Can save him. The lightning
flashing through tie Heavens, at the same mo-
rnt, reveals The grandeur and The horror OF d
midnight tempest; AND gives him momenlary
view Of the awful, una, oidable late that awaits
him. Tue lhunder mingles its feeble notes
wi,n the deafenng roar Of the ocean, as one
afer anoher, its mighty waves tumble in re-
rular confusion upon the shore. But this ter
riff scene is Of short duration, one tremendou.
crash, md ali is over. The ship is broken in .
thousand ri, ces and The m ngled bodies Of the
crew are mingled with the sand and sea W, ed
Of a strange land
The lie &C sailor may be aptly compared
{, ,l,e situation Of all, who are embarked in the
., ,ee Of Tile; and the life Of a good sramar
nr-sents us with no Improbable example to
= alien Tn. longes, life can hardly be sale
.ja cons,tu,e point on the great map Of eter
u.r Therafo every hour, not absolutel.
,eo0irrd Tor tre resi- oration Of exhausted ma rure
sh Id i've employed, for some valuable purpose
i, for CORE citing past errors, and preparing 70
flu ,urr events.
The mind is the great journal book Of life
on whi,h every &C ion, sud the motives tina
} induced them should b- recorded; and a, tn
end Of each day, week, month and year, re
, view and CORRECTION should take place. Blu
more especially az the later period, as the en'
of each year, represents SO many land>fall:
scattered along our way, in the voyage Of life
S This is The last Of the year; land is now i
sight; if lis latitude and longitude agree wit