Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-10-16
Drifting.

II was only the other day that a man fell
asleep in his boat on the Niagara river. Dur.
ing his slumber The boat broke loose from her
and he swoke TO find himself shoot.
ing down the rapids directly towards the csta-
ract. In vain he shrieked for help, in vain
he tried 10 row against the current, he dfified
on, aud on, til! his light craft upset, whea he
was borne rapidly 10 the brink OF The abyss,
and leapng up, with a wild cry, went over
and disappeared forever
In the great battle Of GibrhlsT, when the
united fleets OF france and Spain attack ed
the impTegnable fortress, one OF the gigantic
floating batteries broke from her anchorage
and begen 10 driit directly into The hottest OF
the BRUSH FIRE. The thousand men, who
formed the crew of the uuwieldy mass, vain
ly stroye 10 arrest its progress or divert il from
iIs paih. Every minute il dtifted nearer to
the English guns, every minute some new part
took Gre from the red-hot shot, every inmate
another score OF its hapless defenders were
swept, like chalf, from lis decks. The most
superhuman efforts failed TO prevent lis drift
ing, with It's human freight, 10 inevitable
death.
A ship was wrecked at sea. The passen-
gers aud crew took re fuge on raft, The boats
having been stove in the attempt 10 launch
them. For days and weeks these uniortunates
drifted about without osr8nd sail, on The hot,
brazen tropical ocean. AT last their provisions
failed, and then their water. Still they diff.
ed about, vainly looking for q sail, or hop ns
for sight of land. The time had now come
when hat fearful alternative became inevita
ble death from starvation or feeding on hu-
man fesIl-and they were just beginning 10
casi lois for victim when a vessel was see n
for away on the distant horizon, they abandon
ed their terrible design; the stranger would
approach. The ship came towards Them
| She drew nearer aud neater. They slrove
| TO altrac. her attention by shouts and by rails.
| ing their clothing; but The indosnt lookout
saw them not. They shou ed louder; still they
were mol seen. A, last the vessel tackled
With frantic terror they arose in one body
shouting and waving their garments. II wal
vain The unconscious ship stood steadil!
away. Night crew on, and as The darkness
| fell the raft drfIel anil drifled IN the other di
rec,ion, ill the last trace Of the vessel wal
lost forever.
| So il is in life. The intemperaie man, who
thinks he, OF least, will never die drunk
ard, whatever his neigbbor may DO, only wake;
10 find himself drifting down The cataract, ant
all hope gone. The senSualist, who ives
merely for his own qualification, drills into an
emasculated old age, 10 be tortured with pas
sions he cannot crafty, and perish by mercl'
less, agonizing diseases. Tie undsciplined
who never learn 10 control themselves, who
are spendlhults or passionate, or lndoleni, o.
visionary, soon nuke sbipwrcch o themselves
and drift about the sea Of lie, the prey o
every wind and current, vainly shreking To-
help. ill at last they drin away into darkness
and death.
Tske care that you are not drifting. See
that you have fast hold Of The helm. The
breakers o. life forever roar under the lee, ant
adverse gales continually blow on The shore
Are you watching how she heads! Do yol
keep firm grip Of The wheel? If you give
way for but one moment You may DRIFT help
leSsly into The boiling vortex. Young man
lake care 1t rests with Yourself alone, w
der God. whethe: you reath port Triumphant
ly, or drift; 10 ruin.-Bakimore Sun.