The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-11-27
Written for the Literary Echo
THE SAHLOR-PREAC

ne lOllOWlnG narrative, belonging only
few years back, was received from the
lips of the Old Sailor himself. / give it,
in substance, as | received it, adding a
word of the Old Sailors history by way of
introduction, and hoping that the whole
may not be found undeserving the atten-
ton of the reader:
Mr.. A., better known by the name of
the Old Sai,or-Preacher, is a foreigner,
and man of superior natural abilities
but, from the circumstance of his early life
was denied the advantages of education,
even sufficient to enable him to read.
From necessity, rather than choice, he be-
came a sailor, and for many years bufctted
the storms of different climes, where he
learned, what few, even in the most favor
ed walks of life, understand, to box the
compass" of human nature.
Like many of Neptune's daring sons,
while in port, he ventured to carry too
much sail under the spirited breezcs that are
wont to blow, and not unfrequently the
severe squalls woul leave him upon his
beam ENDS. Many were his painful lessons
and his hardships, till gracious Providence
called him from his disastrous enterprises
to act more conspicuous and honorable
part. Soon learning to read and command
the English language, and following the
impulses of his renewed heart, he devoted
himself to the ministry of good. His quick
and peculiar original endowments, coupled
with his large and varied experience, mark
ed out for him singular but useful path
AS a voluntary missionary he was eminent
ly successful, and gained the confidence o
all.
He visited nearly every port in ou
country, and both on ship-board and in thu
various Bethels, which, by the way, have
been multiplied through his instumentality
he has preached to the joy and salvation o
hundreds so that his fellow-sailors styled
him, not inappropriatcly, Father A.
He was one of the first teetotal advo
Gates, and jointly with the gospel, enforced
total abstinence from Intoxicating drinks
He was found, heart and hand, in the grea
Washingtonian movement, having been 81
circumstanccd as to fully sympathize witt
that noble band of reformers. He lax oret
most efficiently in their ranks, or, rather al
one of their veteran leaders. BetweeI
eighteen and nineteen thousand have beer
persuaded by this apostle of reform, tt
abandon the ranks of folly, sin and death
His plan of operations is of the mos
magnanimous and praiscworthy character
He labors, preaching and lecturing, with
out any regular or certain compensation
trusting to the hand of charity and bosom
of grateful benevolence for his support, a
he goes from town to town, and from Stat
to State. Circumstances and places, whe
ther apparently favorable or not, have littl
power to damp his ardor and energy in hi
missionary tolls. There is often much 0
romance, as well as of the truly great, il
his disintcrested benevolence. One cir
cumstance of his travels struck me will
great effect tho more, as, not only grea
and good in itself, but also, as illustratin,
his profound knowledge of human nature
and his commendable skill in adapting hi
efforts to the achievement of good.
On board of one of those noble cana
boats, that bear their enormous burden
from our Eastern cities to the Western
Lakes, the Old Sailor-Preacher took hi