Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-09-28
An1Ie,Ie. of the sailor. Life.
BY The REV. Mr.. ABBOT, OF NANTUCKET.


A man was speaking a few days ago
of the emotions with which he was
overwhelmed, when he bade adieu to his
family on his last voyage. The ship in
which he was to sail was at Edgartown
on Martha's Vineyard. The packet was
at the wharf which was to convey him
from Nantucket to the ship. He went
down in the morning and saw all his
private sea stores stored away in the
sloop and then returned to his home to
take leave of his wife and children
His wife was sitting at the freside,
struggling in vain to restrain her tears.
She had an infant few months old in
her arms, and with her foot was rocking
the cradle in which lay another little
daughter about three years of age,
with her cheeks flushed with burning
fever. No pen can describe the an
guish of such parting. 1t is almost
like the bitterness of death. The de-
parting father imprints a. kiss upon the
cheek Of his child. Four years will
pass away ere he viii again take that
child in his arms. Leaving his wife
sobbing in anguish, he closes the door
of his house behind him. Four years
must elapse ere he can cross that
threshold again. One sea captain upon
this island has passed but seven years
out of forty-one upon the land.
A lady said to me few evenings
ago, have been married eleven years,
and counting all the days my husband
has been at home since our marriage, it
amounts to but three hundred and sixty
days. He is now absent, having been
gone fifteen months, and two years must
undoubtedly elapse before his wife can
see his face again, and when he shall re-
turn, it will be merely a visit to his
family for few months, when he will
again bid adieu for another four years
absence.
l asked the lady the other day how
many letters she wrote to her husband
during his last voyage. 'One hundred
was the answer. And how many did
he receiver Six The inevitable
rule is to write by every ship that leaves
this port, or New Bedford, or any other
port that may be heard of for the Paci-
fc Ocean. And yet the chances are
very small that any two ships will meet
on this boundless expanse. 1t some
times happens that ship returns, when
those on board have not heard one word
from their families during the whole
period of their absence. Imagine then
the feelings of husband and father,
who returns to the harbor Of Nantucket,
after the separation of forty-eight
months, during which time he has heard
no tidings whatever from his home
He sees the boat pushing off from the
wharves which is to bring him the IT,
dings of veal or wo. He stands pale
and trembling pacing the deck with
emotions which he in vain endeavors TO
conceal. A friend in the boat greets
him with smile, and says, Captain.
your family are all well.' Or perhaps
he says, Captain, l have heavy news
for you. your wife died two years and a
half ago.
A young man left this island last
summer, leaving in his quiet home a
young and beautiful wife. and infant
child. The wife and child are now both
in the grave. But the husband knows
not, and probably will not know of it
for some months to come. He perhaps
falls asleep every night thinking of the
loved ones left at his fre-side, little
imagining that they are both cold in
death.
On bright summer afternoon. the
telegraph announces that Cape Horn
ship has appeared in the horizon. and
Immediately the stars and stripes OF
our national banner are unfurled from
our dag staff sending wave OF emo
ton through the town. Many families
"a .. 81 .r -