The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-06-07

[ no way oil avol1lng-our destrucflon.t
"But this woman, was she at the
helm all this timew
Indeed she was! s!--nor would she be
relieved. | worked the spanker and
offered to give her spell at The wheel
more than once, but she said no, and
smiled SO sweetly, that it made me feel
bad when thought of the likes Of her
beng near so terrible a death as bid
fair to be the fate of US all. All at once,
J away went the three topgallant masts
just above the cap, and the rigging, bro
ken spars and the top hamper, come
tumbling down on deck, and the mizen
royal and topgallant rigging fell foul OF
the wheel, and yetshe escaped unhurt.
Nor did she finch, but lent me hand
to clear the wheel. and told me how to
set it about it. Not bat what knew,
but thinking Of her had so confused me
/ was at loss, while she was as clear
witted as any girl could be while clea-
ring skein Of silk. How the owl dodg-
ed the wreck don't know, but he did,
and perched himself on the pinnacle
staring the woman full in the face.
own | was little afraid of him, but
| made bold show as though would
fist him and put him out Of that at all
risk. Seeing what was about to do,
she says ''no, don't do any such thing,
but think how soon you may be going
out of this world into the next. and
don't carry the stain of fbloodupon your
hands," The way she looked when
she spoke it did not seem as though she
rightly did belong to this world. But
a moment after saw her turn her head,
and the tears trickled fast and many
down her cheeks. could not keep
a dry eye myself upon seeing this, and
no more could any other man. She
sa " it and said, "only yesterday was
thinking how soon should meet my
husband, from whom ! have been sepa-
rated long time, but now | feel we
shall never meet again on EARTH"
What she said was all in reason, for
our sea 70 ON was SO small, and our drift
so great that we must soon strike and
90 to pieces. Between lacks goes to
the round-house land took out a piece.of
cordage, making one end fast around
my waist, and told her that when the
worst come to the worst, that the same
rope that ] hoped to save my life by
should save hers, or we would drown
together. 49,.
I told her how ! meant to work it. -
That the ship would go to pie' es as soon
as she struck, that she must allow me
to make her fast to myself,and that there
would be line enough left to secure US
both to a floating piece of the wreck,
and then for what farther happened we
must look to Providence, assuring her
at the same time that | was good
swimmer, and would try my best.
"What did she say?" asked one of the
sailors.
| Say!-why she gave me her hand,
and though she did not speak, yet her
look told me that all would be right; and
some how | did not feel half the con-
cern ior myself after that, for it seemed
to me that if had one so precious in my
charge there would be something turn
up to save us. Now to cut short my
yarn, let me tell you that things kept
looking for the worse, and though we
worked ship, it was in silence,and with
out hope ,and when every eye was care
less, and every heart sunk in despair,
she saw the means of safety.
"How?"
Although she had never been on a
lea shore before in her life, her bright
eve saw a spot where the sea did not
break, when nobody else saw it. Her
good sense told her that If we struck
there, our chance for safety was great
er than it would be striking any where
else. She called to the captain, he
came, and saw it in a moment--it was
little ON the lee-bow--the ships head
was kept for it, we taking the canvass
off Of her as fast as possible till every
thing was Glued up, except just enough
to leave her manageable.
The old man went forrard, ! kept my
station by her, feeling at the time as |
never did before, and as pray | never
may again. We drew near to it,it was
still as dark as Egypt, and the roar OF
the breakers now drowned every other
noise, while the ship, shorn as she was
of canvass, was running with the speed
Of the wind.
| A moment more-l braced myself
standing directly abaft her, and took a
turn with the line round her and made
it fast to myself. had to shut my eyes,
but the last thing | recollect seeing was
the fair helmsman cunning the ship,
watching her head--meeting her with
| thu "A aim noxu n ctarhoa ri nnyu q M ~