True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-01
z. RAGAN, Editor and Proprietor.

mighty's form was CHASING itself in tenn
pests" As for myself, if not with fear, I
was filed with deep and solemn awe,
and my mind almost unconsciously began
revolving the chances of escape, in case Of
any emergency. I looked out; the clouds
abated not in density, nor the wind in yio-
lence. 1t was bitterly cold. Alas with
in that freezing food the most expert
swimmer could scarcely hope to gain the
shore
With u vivid prcsentiment of danger,
amounting almost to certainty, sought
my State-room, where fervently commen-
ded myself to the protection of Him, who
'rides upon the storm and rules the raging
deep" l placed my prcserver where it
might be conveniently reached, and, with
a mind somewhat tranquilizcd, returned to
my solitary station.
1 had been 50 busily engaged with my
own thoughts, and the appearances with
out, that the gay company, laughing and
chatting around, had made as little i'm
preston as so many moths circling in the
light Of brilliant lamp, or had expert
encod but momentary establishment at
their total Indifference to, or ignorance of,
the outward gloom. Most Of them, and,
indeed, all of the lady passengers, pre-
sumo, were unconscious Of its existence,
for the day had, until the latter part of
the evening, been fair and cloudless
lapse Of sunshine but on the countcnan-
ccs Of two or three Of the elderly gentle
men, / thought | could discern slight
shade Of anxiety, which dcepened as they
retlrnedp from frequent observations upon
the guards. Such indications were, how
ever, unheeded, where the dreamy harp
and the thrilling yiol were sleeping the
soul into delicious torgetfulness of earth; !;
and they, who bounded so gaily on the
springing boards, could not know that
they We're quiycring and straining, not be-
meath the tread Of dancing feet, but under
the redoubled pressure of steam, and be-
fore the bufating pinions Of the blast.
An old gentleman, for whom 1 had for
med quite friendship, entered the side
door Of the cabin, and, approaching, seated
himself upon the divan at my side.
"You have been out" said I, "obser-
wing the unpropitious weather."
Exactly" was the reply. ~ have
been constant passenger upon this river
for the last twenty years, and l do not re-
member to have stemmed it upon a more
wretched looking night than this"
81 am surprised at our captain" said l,
"for running on such night. 1t looks
very much like rccklessness to imperil, un-
necessarily, the lives Of so many fellow
beings. wonder that some of the pas
scngers do not request him to lay by till
morning"
"They hayo--seyoral have urged him ia
desist, but he persists in saying there is nc
danger in rnnning. In truth, the river is
high, and there is not very much fear Of
snags, at any rate; and he declares that
his pilot is perfectly acquainted with the
channel and that we are as safe here as
we would be, tied to the shore. But
suspect" said my companion, "the fact is
the suddenness Of the storm has taken the
captain by surprise, and in this impenetra
bic darkness, it would now be impossible
to make landing. However, don't BE-
alarmed" he added, "the moon rises about
ten, and it is possible the clouds may break
and give us clear night after all"
ooh, no, | am not alarmed. know i
is BEST" I replied, "to preserve one'
presence of mind when surrounded by dan
ger, and then, you know, you may console
yourself with the reflection that it is onl,
the body which is in jeopardy"
"No," said he, 81 don't know any sucl
thing; I wish did"
Such a remark surprised me exceeding
, ly; I had often noticed him perusing tn
Scriptures, and l observed that l was un
| der the impression that he was a very de
vout Christian.
"0h, no! far from it. I read the Bibl
as literary curiosity, and with the hop
r Of discovering the truth if it is there; bu
| will leave you now, for | see you are q
brave soldier as /. /"
, 1t was sad thought that my silvcl
haired friend had passed through ncarl
three score years, without discovering th
D truth Of Revelation and the beauty of HI
: illness; but I could but hope and beliey