The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-09-06

Sunk pennon, spar, and SAIL '-f10lnatS
1t was lovely morning in midsummer in the
year 1914, when sloop Of war appeared off the
the ocean now signed through the neatly fitted
rigging OF the belligerant stranger, and the faint
ripple at the bows gave evidence that she was
slowly gliding ahead. The waves seemed to creep
in long unbroken swells before her, and the lin
gering glow of sunset, as tganced from summit
to dalk green summit, seemed like the smile of dy-
ing day upon the rolling praries of Illinois.
Her light sails. from sky to waterfall, swelled
beautifully to the rising shores OF merry England,
and the starry ensign of the free streamed gallantly
over her quarter deck; her ports were shut in; a
silence equal to that of forsaken bark reIgned
through her halls of thunder, while solitary bat
tie lantern CLEANED at the cabin door. The tread
of the orderly on duty, alone gave evidence that
the gallant vessel was not a spectre ship, some
galIeon freighted with the deadp Hour after hour
lazily rolled away The land now began to grow
more distinct, while the haze of morning settled
deeper upon the shadowed water. At four A. M.
a bright flash appeared where the shade the land
and the moon-lit blow mingled together, and then
one after another the cleaning sails of ship of
war hove in sight.
Beat to quarters!' thundered the commander OF
the American vessel, and then as quick as thought
the silence of the quiet vessel was broken by the
shrill notes of the fife, the tapping of the drum, the
tread of armed men, the trucking up of ports, the
rafting of cannon shot in the racks, and the run
ming out of heavy pieces of ordinance.
The chase now showed English colors, turned
swiftly upon his heel, and ran up the private signal
Of the channel fleet.
sShow them the stars cried the immortal
Blakely. sForecastle there
sAye, ave. replied the masters mate
Are you all ready with bow gum
sAll ready, SIR
'Luf, quarter.master.'
sLuff 1t is sir said the old salt at the helm.
Stand by forward-Firep -t..
The sloop yawned gracefully at the command Of
the trumpet, displayed her ensign, which had been
hidden by the mountain of canvass that lowered
before it A heavyroar followed volume of fire
and scooly smoke from the American vessels
bows, and then sharp and cracking sound from
the chase--as though heavy body had fallen from
a great height upon thin lattice of laths, and bad
passed through it, accompanied by a cry of agony,
that echoed fearfully over the still waters told but
too plainly the work of bloody death had commen-
ced. g .3a1 & .
sThey have felt the sting the Wasp cried the
American captain, as he scanned the chase through
thenight-glass. Steady your helm quarter-mas-
ter, this is but the opening of the ball.
!. Steady, so,' answered the attentive gunner at
the wheel. And the gallant sloop was as sill ent rs
before. ~
sAnd still the sails went on
ta q" A pleasant noise till noon, - % -h3uf
h3le A noise like hidden brook s'7i
'fl q In the leafy month Of June, ail re- ne
That to the sleeping woods all night
uH5 Singeth a quiet tune
AT fifteen minutes past one, P. M, the Wasp
tacked--the chase also tackled to preserve the wea-
ither gage AT three, P. M, the enemy bore down
on tho Wasps weather quarter, answered her can
non Of defiance, and stood gallntly down to close,