The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-09-11
The nor-aist coorse, your honor that's
L.. $1,000. IL. L

the coorse agin the world
Remember that never alter that course
till you see land--let nothing make you turn
out of n0r-east course
Troih an that id be the dirty turn that il
was yourself that ordered il. o, no, LII de-
fend my life and the norGisf coorse, and God
help any one that comes betune me an it,
I'd run him down If he was my father
Well, good bye. Barney
Good bye, and God bless you, your honor,
and send you SAFE
That's wish you want more for your
sell, barney-never fear me, but mind your.
self WELL
Oh, sure I'm as good as at home, wanst
know The way, barrin' the wind is contrary;
sure the nor-ast coorse III do the business
complate.' And so saying, Barney descend
ed the ships side and once more assumed the
helm OF the hardy-hooker'
The two vessels now separated on their
opposite courses. What contrast their re-
laiiye situations afforded! Proudly the ship
bore away under her lofty and spreading can
vass, cleaving the pillows before her, manned,
by an able crew, and under the guidance Of
experienced nfIicers--the finger of science
to point the course OF her progress, the faith
full chart to warn her of the hidden rock and
the shoal, the log-line and the quadrant to
measure her march and prove her position
The poor liule hooker cleft not the pillows,
each wave lifted her on its crest like sea-
bird; but three inexperienced fishermen to
manage her no certain means to guide them
over the vast ocean they had TO traverse, and
the holding of the "fckle wind" the only
chance of~their escape from perishing in the
wilderness Of waters By the one, the feel
ing excited is supremely that Of mans pow
err. BY the other, Of his utter helplessness.
To the one, the expanse of ocean could
scarcely be considered trackless.' To the
other, il was a waste indeed.
Yet the cheer that burst from the ship at
parting was answered as gaily from the hooker
rs though the odds had not been SO fearfully
against her, and no bither heart beat on board
the ship than that Of Barney O'Reifdon.
Happy Observation-Disclosures Of my poor coun-
trymen! They have often need Of all their
buoyant spirits! How kindly they have been
fortified by nature against the assaults Of adj
yersity and if they blindly rush into danger,
they cannot be denied the possession Of gal
liant hearts to fight their way out Of it if they
can.
But each hurra became less audible By
degrees the cheers dwindled into faintness,
and, finally, were lost in the eddies of the
breeze.
The sense of utter loneliness and desola-'
ton had not come upon Barney until now
but he put his trust in the goodness of Pro-
violence, and in fervant inward outpouring
Of prayer, resigned himself to the care Of his
Creator.
The night fell, and Barney stuck 10 the helm
as long as nature could sustain want Of rest,
and then left it in charge of one Of his com
panions, with particular directions how to
steer, and ordered, If any change in wind oc-
Cured, that they should instantly awake him.
He could not sleep long, however; the fever
Of anxiety was upon him. and The morning had
not long tawned when he awoke. He had
not well rubbed his eyes, and looked about
him, when he thought he saw ship in the
asafad as9,oaefhanssn ths dhazs
down towards the hooker. On board the ship,
the hooker. in such sea, caused surprise as
before, and in about an hour she was so close
as to hail, and ordered the hooker to run un-
der her lee.
The divil taste said Barney, I'll not
quit my nor-aist coorse for the king of Ing
land, nor Bonaparte into the bargain. Bad
cess TO you, do you think I've nothing to do
but PLACE you Z
Again he was hailed, and fired at, but he
persevered in his course, and got clear of.
The third day, Barney's fears for the con-
inuity of his nor-aist coorse was excited, as a
larger brig hove in sight, and the nearer she
approached, the more directly she came
athwart Barney's course.
May the dv sweep yoa,' said Barney,
'and will nothin' else sarye you than comm
fornaist me that-a-way. Brig. a-hoyn shout
ed Barney, giving the tiller to one of his mess
mates, and standing at the bow Of his boat
Brig-a-hoy there bad luck to you; 60
long out o. my nor-aist coorse' The brig,
instead Of obeying his mandate, hove right to,
and lay ahead Of the hooker Oh look at
this shouted Barney, and he stamped on the
deck with rage--'look at the BLACKBOARD where
they're stayin just a-purpose to ruin an I'M
fortunate man like me. My heavy hathred to
you; gull this mint. or Ill run down on We,
and if we go TO the bottom, well haunt you for
ever more--go long out o. that, tell you
The curse o. Crummil on you, you stupid
vagabones, that wont 60 out Nv mans nor
ast coorse y
From cursing Barney went to praying as
he came nearer For the tenther marcy Of
heaven leave my way. May the Lord reward
you, and get out o my nor-aist coorse! May
angels make your bed in heavin, and don't
r,,inate me this-a-way.' The brig was inn
movable, and Barney give up in despair,
having cursed and prayed himself hoarse, and
finished with Duet volley Of prayers and
curses together, apostrophising the hard case
of n man being done out o his nor-aist
coorse.'
'A-hoy there y shouted a voice from the
brig So You're small craft to be so far at
sea. | suppose you have provision on board
To be sure we have throth If we hadn't,
this id be a bad place to 90 a-beggin'.'