The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-08-12
ssIsss lso.a..s As,rol.o. nv.


@hich he carried on in d schooner
called the Na,icy Inn, and his voy,
ages! !Asuall y extended MS farsas Nor
folk Himself md an old negro named
San, forming tho crew. On a re.
turn voyage from N Norfolk one night,
tho Nancy Ann danced gaily over
therippled surface Of the bay, before
gentle breeze, our trader standing
sat The holm, as was his custoln-fo.
tboughbe had occasionally trusted
Sam with that place in pleasant
ssseather, during the daytime, yet he
! not sufficient confidence in Sam 8
seamanshipito allow him the guidance
sssSE The vessel at night. The weather
during the voyage down and return.
ing np.to this time had been exceed.
sifla trough, and the trader was quito
exhausted for want Of sleep, md his
ineessant labor at the helm. The
hight5was one Of exceeding beauty
sahthe1stars seemed to be on dress
piaradc, the planets playing generals,
sandthe metcors rs aid-de.camps; not
q spcclS of a cloud was visible from
horizon to zenith, and borne before
tho breeze, the Nancy Ann glidcd
smoothly along on her homeward
course, without requiring q motion Of
stlieitil!cr = Every thing seemed so 81.
Ientiand fine, and our trader, as We
have said, being much exhausted,
concluded that this was a good op.
portunity 70 obtain little repose.
md that for ence he would give Sam
thetiiler. So calling him aft for
Sam, true to the characteristics Of his
race, delighted in sleep, and was
then enjoying snoczc among the
coils of5rope forward-thus he spoke
- - Sam, Z am very sleepy and tired
II must have a nap. The weather
is 50 fair that I'll give you the tillcr.
But you must follow my directions
strictly Do you sec that star up
sthere? Yes, massa,' said Sam,
then, that is the north star
Nov take the tiller, and keep her
Slieal towards that star; don't let her
Sfall8off, you black rascal, or I'll
whale you. If anything happens,
rouse me Immediately. Now mind
your eye aye, aye, Nasal said
Sam.
Down went the trader, and soon
he was wrapped in the arms Of Muir
ply, as the irish have it, while Sam
kept the Nancy's head to the star.
Time wore apace, and the schooner
Skinned along. Aboard ship many
things induce drowsiness the loncli-
ness ofthc situation, the monotonous
washing of the waves against the
sidessofsthe vessel, the rushing of the
astern, and the mourntul sing.
ing Of. the breeze through the cord.
agc-all of these had their influence
upon Sam; added to which was the
mcsmcric effect Of gazing fixedly at
any particular object, as Sam did at
the north star. Yielding at last to
the somnori6c influences Which sur
rounded him, Sam closed his eyes,
and commenced basso accompani
lncnt to the alto snorc of his master.
Whilst they slumbercd, old Aiolus.
who's always brocz;ng about, rcsolv-
sedsto play a prank upon the careless
seaman, So he let loose q Norwcstcr,
which no sooner struck the Nancy.
than sue wore round, and started off
before the wind like a wild horse. -
Meanwhile the sky became o'crcast,
the dress parade was over, tattoo
beat, lights put out, and the stars
snugin their quarters. Away went
the Nancy, as if frightened at her
snoring crew. Presently, the spray
Washing oyer the side, gave Sam a
stlrenching, and awakened him to a
8sensc Of duty. Quite bewildcrcd, he
looked about him, all was dark. -
forward, larboald, and starboard, he
gazcd in search Of his beacon light
not a star was to be seen. Suddenly
IcSturncd,to look astcrn, and there,
far away in tho north, where the
clouds had left strip of blue sky, he
saw Capricorn liickcring just above
the horizon. Pleased at his discoyc,
rY, lie rushed below, seized the tra.
aeiby the shoulder. and shaking him
siplently, cried out--'Massa! massa!
GiisSnp! git up! and show me'noder
stag$ I an pass dat 'un!- Ne'p
lofk SPIRIT Of the Times.
dark HoURs.-Ther are hours,
dark hours, that mark the history Of
sthe brightest year. Eor not whole