Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-10-16
MISCELLANY
THE COAST STORM,
OR WIFE WORTH HAVING.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

sailors, are doomed to i'll fate. James Mar
shall, young man from Newport, R. l., had
been her captain for five years, and during that
time she had been twice knocked down. once
had she carried away her foremast, and at the
time in which we write, the old ship was dock
ed at Liverpool undergoing repairs from Sc
rious damage she received during heavy gale
haps the owners had been forced 10 acknowl-
edge that the young captain was entirely free
from blame, while on the other hand, he had
made better time in his trips than any other
master had been able TO get out of her.
The last damage which the Vincent received,
proved to be the occasion of the dawning of a
new era in the life of Captain Marshall, for
while waiting in Liverpool for his ship to be
repaired, he fell in with a blooming New
England girl named Emma Ramsay, the eld-
est daughter of the agent who did the business
for the Vincent owners, and ere long they
discovered that between them there existed a
peculiar feeling of mutual love. Captain Mar
shall popped the delicate question; Emma con-
suited with her papa, and at length she con-
sented to become Mrs. Marshall. 1t was a
happy day for all parties when the marriage
took place, for from the known character of the
bridegroom and his beautiful bride, all felt sure
that the match would prove one of peace and
content.
The Vincent was once more ready for sea.
Her cargo was all on board and shipped for
Boston, and Emma had resolved TO accompany
her husband to the United States. For num-
Der of days the weather was pleasant, and the
wind was fair, while Capt. Marshall felt ex-
tremely happy in the delightful company of his
wife. The old sailors shook their heads as
they saw the gentle Emma pacing the deck,
and they very mysteriously asserted that such
pleasure couldn't always last and so indeed
it proved; for at the close of pleasant day,
when they were within three or four days sail
of their destined port things began to look any
thing but agreeable. Away to the southard
and eastward the horizon began 10 assume a
sort of inky blackness, with here and there a
ghost-hke livid spot, when on all hands the
heavens had changed their ethereal blue for a
cast of deeper and more fearful import.
Capt. Marshall felt as he had never felt be-
fore on the approach of a storm. For himself
for his ship-he had no thought then. There
was one on board who engrossed his every
sympathy for his young wife he felt degree
of intense anxiety that was painful; but he
forgot not his duty and with comparative calm
ness he set about it. The courses were haul
ed up and snugly furled, the lighter sails TAX
en- in, and the lofty yards and topgallant masts
sent on deck, and the three topsails closely
reefed.
Long before the sun went down, the undula-
ting ocean had assumed almost the blackness
of night, and not many moments elapsed after
the spars had been secured upon the deck, ere
the storm burst upon the ship. 1t was regu-
lar southeaster, and those who have encoun-
tered one of these storms in the Gulf, know
something of their power. Higher and higher
rose the mighty tempest, until at length 1t was
found necessary to take in the topsails, and tc
trust to the fore and main, storm stay-sails anc
balance reefed spanker, and in this way the
ship laid to till morning, the storm increasing
every hour.
Capt Marshall had trusted that when the
sun rose the next day the storm would abate
but in this he was disappointed, for part O
the forenoon he was obliged 10 scud before
it. 1t was not until two siaysails had been tori
from their bolt-ropes that he broke his fears tc
his wife.
Emma said he, / wish had not taker
you with me-
Why sol she asked, as she gazed up into
her husbands face with apparent astonish
ment.
sWhy sol Do you not comprehend ou,
danger,'
But the ship does not leak, does she p
returned Emma, with a remarkable cool
ness.
sNo'
Then let US not fear the storm. Twas borI
upon the Atlantic and feel that can trust tt
nv native element
The Captain was astonishcd at this trait il
his wife's character, and clasping her TO hi!
arms. he felt his own soul swelling with new
life.
Emma he said, as he gazed more affec
tionately than ever into her face, my heavies
fears are passed. For you alone have fearet
the most; but now can calmly tell you where
in lies your danger. The storm has driven u
far out of oGr course, and twice have we beel
scudding before it. ! fear that the coast o
Maine cannot be far TO leeward, and know
nothing of that coast, save what gather from
my chart For MS to lay-to is next to impossl
BILE. The rising sea has rendered our stay
sails useless, and have been obliged to set tn
close-reefed main-topsail, but she cannot hol
it long, ao ~ ..,-
I. Ny husband returned Emma, though yo
may know nothing of the coast of Maine, ye
there are few spots along her rugged shore
that are not as play grounds to me. Nv faith
l.er was for years surveyor of her islands an
harbors, and was his constant compauion.-
To me her cliffs and inlets present nothing tha
can alarm me-
Hardly had she ceased speaking when
sharp creak, like the report Of pistol, sound