Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-03-14
Correspondence.
For The Standard.
Sunset at Sea.

/ ance. And the heather mariner who
exclaimed as he saw the sun settle below
! the wave, and saw its Hast beam sparkle
and flash upon his tiny bark, g God has
( gone to sleep" had q faint glimpse Of
that noble and sublime feeling that has
iawed the more enlightened mind. I re-
member one dag after a long and fruitless
chase after sperm whales, we returned
on board the ship tired and discouraged ;
! for It was not the first time that the slip
! perry filmed monster had given US the
IsEp, and one could plainly see by the
compressed lips and lowering brows Of
Ithe crew, that they had had enough Of
such sport.
We were lying some forty miles from
Pic, one Of the Azore islands. We
could see its tallest peak hanging over
our heads as it were, presenting the same
coquettish appearance that has led SO
many sailors first to conlude they see
/ land, next a water-spour, then black
squau. To me It looked ike huge
/ blacl, cloud hanging overhead, ready to
! pour its torrents Of rain down upon Us.
The base Of the mountain was surrounded
by thick fog, and now and then d col
umn would shoot up and hide its black
summit. but to my story. As soon as
| 7 struck the deck hurried forward and
seated myself on the bows, where might
catch some breeze to fan my brow, as ny
head ached and face burned by the hot
and heavy atmosphere. I buried my
face iii my hands and sat for soae time.
while thoughts Of home and friends
crowded upon my mind, and the images
OF brothers and sisters, a father and
mother, and many dear friends, fitted
before nay eyes. Was I there upon the
broad ocean, forgotten By all, or at that
time was I the subject of prayer and
deep solicitation? Should 7, if the all
powerful hand Of God spared and con-
duc!ed me once more to my Green Noun
tain home, should I be welcomed BY ali.
. or would the same cold look and stiff nod
meet me there, that meets the sailor in
every seaport town. Thoughts like these
We're constantly rushing through mymind,
and Twas making myself very miserable,
when suddenly a breeze sprung up and
swept the matted locks from my brow.
1 looked up to see from what course the
welcome guest had come. Twas from
she west, and the sun was Just sinking
beneath the wave. Oh, how quick Is
tue heart changed! one moment sorrow
, ing over imaginary evils; another radiant
E'.ifi'- - tha si-l.s. If sa-ue.hiaL Lcan-
titalor satlime. And those tinny waves.
dancing and sparkling in the last rays of
( the setting sun, chased every sad thought
from my heart All was forgotten in
contemplation Of the beautiful sight
Had 1 the talent Of d Scott Or a Byron.
[ shouldiaI to give YOU correct descrip-
ton Of the sublimity Of the scene. Tie
sun locked Ike q costly gem held up so
that ail its varied color5 could be seen.
Now its beams dartcd along the waves
end as by a magic wand they turned to
gold; then again they darted up into the
Heavens and she'd a bright silvery light
amid the settling gloom again, as the
heavy ground swell rose, seemed buried
IN It's briny bosom, and as It sunk again.
would be obliged to shade my eyes from
the sudden light. Now schools Of fvipo
fish would rise in its wake, and their
wings would show all the varied coIors Of
the rainbow. Now and then a doIpbin
would jump from the waves and show
his golden sides, as if to add new lustrg
| by catching some Of the unriyaIed tints
OF the setting sun, Butyouth and beauty
pass away, and oh, how quickly! and
thus with the sun; it sunk lower and
lower till soon only faint pale light
was left to ilIumine the western wave
then all vanished, and soon night ghroud.
ed all in gloom.
thought, as [ saw how calmly the
sun sunk that evening, perhaps to rise in
greater splendor next morning. how fit
an emblem Of the death of the Christian
and how bright IS the light they shed
when death carries him to the great tri-
bund. They sink calmly to sleep, to
rise with renewed splendor in a world Of
bliss.
How much like the course Of life is
the daily journey Of the sun. With
some 1t rises mid dark clouds Of obscu-
rty, and is shrouded from the gaze Of
admiration by the damp fogs Of indifer-
ence, and their whole course is run with
out seeing Or being seen, without lighting
the path Of others or shedding one ray
OF JOY or hope upon their own miserable
eNIsLenca. md are ln.t 81 ~. --.1.-L