New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-10-02
Anxistiss. oiashs sailor,a Lifs.

= =
By THE REV. MR. Abbot, OF SANTuGKET. t.
A man was speaking a few days ago Of the
emotions with which he was overwhelmed when
he babe adieu to his family on his last voyage.
The ship in which sheswas to sail was at Edgar
town on Marthais Vineyard. The packet was sit
the wharf which was to convey him from Man
tueket tosthe ship sHewenti down in the morn
ing, and saw an his private sea stores stored
away in the sloop and then returned to his home
TO take leaye.of his wife. and children His wife
was sitting at the freside, struggling in vain to
restrain her tearsa, She had an infant "a 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 q burning fever. No pen
can describe the anguish of such a parting It
issalmost like the, bitterness of death Tie de-
parting father imprints d kiss upon the cheek of.
his child. Four years will pass away ere he
viii again take that child in his ar1as, Leaving
his wife sobbing in anguish, he closes the door
of his house behind him. Four years must
'elapse ere be can cross that threshold again
One sea captain upon his island has passed but
seven years out Of forty one alpon the land = 8
8 a lady said to me q few evenings agossI hage,
been married eleven years, and counting al the
days my husband has been Ut, home since our
marriage, it amounts to osbutS three hundred and
sixty days He is now absent, having heen,g gone
fifteen months. and two years must nndoab btedIy.
elapse before his wife can see his face again. and
when he shall return. II will be merely visit
to shiss family, for q few months, when he Will
again bid them adieu for another four years
ABSENCE
I Tasked the lady the other day how. many let
ters she wrote to her husband during his, last
voyage One hundred. was tho answer.
".And how many did he receive :. Six &
The inevitable rule ia. to- write by every shin
that leaves this port, or New Bedford or any
e.
Ocean. And yet the chances are very small
that any two ships will meet on this boundless
expanse Il sometimes happens that ship re-
turns, when. those on board have not heard ona
word from their families during the whole period
Of their absence, Imagine then the feelings Of
a husband and q father who returnst to the har-
Dor Of Nantucket, after the separation Of forty
light months, during which tineshe has heard
no. tidings whatever from his home He sees the
boat pushing off from the wharEes which is to
bring him the tidings Of veal or woe. He stands
pale and trembling, paying the deck with emo
4 tions which he in vain endeavors to conceal a
friend in the boat greets him with q smile. and
says, g Captain, your family are all we'll Or
perhaps he says, Captain, Ihaye heavy news
for you your wife died tive years and hall
ago. ......'s-y.. -.
| A young man left this island last summer
leaving in his quiet home, a Young and haanti4
| full wife, and infant child sFhe wife and child
are now beth in the grave. But the husband
| knows not, anu probably VIII not know OF It for
/ some to come he perhaps falls asleep
every night thinking q tne Loved enes left At hls
hre side little that they are both cole
IN death
+ 'ons bright summer afternoon the telegraph
announces that's Cape Horn ship has appeared
in the horizon, and Immediately the stars and
stripes Of our national banner are unfUried
troma our Flagstaff, sending wave Of emotion
4 through the town. Many families are hoping
ithatit is the ship in which their friends are 60
4 rstnrns and all are hoping for tidings FROM ths