Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-08-02
THE SAILOR AND THE STUDENT.

SAlLcR AM thG
\ few years since, was travelling TO
the eastward, with my daughter, to sec
my relatives, from whom l had for some
years been absent the stage stopped in
Providence, Rhode Island, when an ad-
ditional traveller took his passage with
us. lie was u sca-farng man, about thir-
ty years of age, and neatly dressed in the
sailors habit. In short time we be-
came social, and engaged in conversation
with each other. He appeared intelli-
gent, and his narratives Of his voyages
we're interesting, as he had seen much of
the world. lie had been on board the
Admiiars ship in the great naval battle
with the French Fleet, and was near
Lord Nelson when he received his mortal
wound, having been pressed into the ser
vice. 1t was not long before he began
to use very profane language; aud, as a
professor of religion, / thought it my du-
tv to show him the wickedness, and i'm
propricty ofsuch language, and resolved,
on the ultcrance of the next oath, TO be-
gin with him. Accordingly, as he was
using an improper expression, l looked
him in the face, and kindly chidcd him
for his language. lie Immediately re-
piled, :: Oh. we sailors are accustomed to
it, and don't mind swearing" Ireplied,
it increased their criminality, BY proceed
ing in that course until it became habit.
He then appeared very angry at the re-
proof, which was as tenderly given as l
could possibly make it. l then told him
1 saw he was displeased, and he and I
would cease convcrsirg with each other,
unless he promised nc he would keep
his temper, and be friendly. lie imme-
diatcly consented: and l then took an
opportunity of introducing the subject of
religion. heard not word Of profanc
language from him after this, he was very
friendly, and took the liberty to recon-
mend him to several religious authors,
which wished him to read, and as one
of the best, next to the Bible, Doddridge's 5
Rise and Progress ofReligion in the soul !;
a work which had been of great advan-
tagc to myself when under serions i'm
pressioDs before yielded myself up to
God, and became member of the
Church.
By this time we were on tho most
friendly terms. When we arrived at the
place for dining, at the table, / showed
him every mark Of attention, and treated
him as if guest at my own table. He
appeared much affected with the atten-
ton paid him by myself and daughter.
As soon as we rose from the table he im-
mcdiatcly disappeared, and in a short
time VIC saw him at some distance run
ming, to meet the stage, before it started,
with A quantity Of cakes, oranges, &c. in
his nea, and clean bandanna handkerchief,
which he Immediately lavished on my
daughter and myself, and would take no
apology for our non.rcception of them.
We reached Boston, where l was TO
leave him to proceed on his journey to
his fathers in Maine, and as we parted
he put his hand on my knee, and with
tears, said he was sorry l was not going
father with him. lie had five hundred
dollars with him, which he received as
prize money, and said he would be able
to give some assistance to his father, and
family, and get into some business that
he need not leave him again, by going TO
sea. The witer, from the evident good
effect produced on the mind Of the sailor
would say to his christian brethren be
kind and tender.heartcd,' and God may
bless your design, in bringing others to
taste and see that the Lord is good
During the conversation with the sail
or, a Young gentleman, a student at one
of the Colleges, on a visit to Boston to, his
fathers, sat before mo with his head in a
position that | did not see his face, who
appeared totally indifferent to the sub
iect of our conversation. l then had not
the most distant idea that we should ever
NEE. acain-but God in his providence
brought him once more into my compa-
nv, and afforded me much pleasure, IN
religious intercourse with him, in the
following manner. 4 few years after
our Journey to Boston, gentleman came
into my store and introduced himself to
me; and as I had no recollection of him,
he reminded me of the incident of the
sailor, and stated that he was the young
man who was our fellow passenger at the
time, and that he lad now como to Phl'
adelphia to study Divinity with the Rev.
D. S--o. Iaskcd him when nc be-