The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-10-22
Drifting.

1t WAS enly the other dnv that . man
fell asleep iu his bost on the Niagara riy
er. Daring his slumher the boat Groke
loose from her moorings, aud he woke 10
find him shooting down the rapids derect-
ly rewards The cataract. In vain he shrek.
cd for help, III vain he tried 10 row against
tue current, he driftei On, and Oh, and on,
Til hia light craft upset, when be was borne
rs .iiiy to the Lrink oi the abyss, aad leap
Ing up, wi,h wild cry, wend gsser and
disapi cured ioressr. ,sk.z....a
Ia the great oatlie Of Gibraltar, when
the united tteets vi France snd Spain ~.
tacAed ne inpregnabis fortress, one Of the
gigantic hoaliug batteries broke from her
anchorage aud oegan TO drift directly in
the hot test OF The British fire. Tue
thousand nlen VINO formeu The crew Of the
uawisidy mass, yainiy strove 10 arrest its
progress or divert IL trolu It's path. Every
miuu.e IL drirted nearer 10 the EngllsA
guns. every minute come new part took
nrs froln The red not shot, every minute
another score vi lis hspless defenders
were swept, like chaif from its decks
Tae most suptrhaiuan efforts failed 10 pre-
vcnt ,.s drifting, with its human freight,
~ its inevitable dea.h.
A ship was wrecked ai sea. The pas
semgers and crew took refuge Oh q RAFT.
the boats having teen stove III the attempt
10 launch them. For days aud weeAs
these unfortuua,es arilted about without
oar anu sail. Oh Inc hol, brs1en tropical
ocean. Al last their PROVISIONS ialieG.
and then liieir water. Still they dritted
ABOUT, vaimiy iooklhg for sail, OF hoping
ior sight Ut land. The iims had now
come when that fearful alternative became
iueviiabie-death from starvation OR feed.
ing On human aesa -aad .ney were just
beginning 10 cast lots for victim, Nnen
vessei was seen. far away Oh distant
horizon. they abandoned their terrible dr..
sign; the stranger would approach. Tue
ship came towards them. Sac drew near
.r AID nssrer. They strove to attract
her allentlun by shouts, and ty raising
their cio hes; sat the indoient lockout
saw them not. They thUu3ed i, uEes;
sill they were not seen At last the yes.
e.t.cked. With frantic terror Ls. % {
in bpdy. shouting aud waving their gar.
me. ts. Itwas oil in vain. The upcon'
scious shil, stood steadily away. Night
drew OH, aud ss the darkness fell, the rst
drifted and drifted in the other direction
TILL the last trace Of the vessel Was los'
forever
! So it is in life. The Incorporate man
who thinks he. ~ least, will never die &
drunkard, whatever a neik hber may do
only wakes to 6ud himself drifting dowi
the cataract, aud all hope gone. The sen
~ list, wao Ives merely Tor his own graf
ihcatiUn, drifts into an emaseula,ed ois
age, to he tortured by passions he eanno
crafty, and perish by iaerei!ess, aganisin,
diseases. The undisciplined, who neve'
iearaed to control themselves, who ar
spendihrifts, or passionate, or indolsnt, o
visionary, soon make shipwreck Of them
selves. and drift about the sea Of life. tn
prey ofevery Wind and current, vaial.
shrleking for help. ill at last they drii
away into darkness and death.
Take care that you are not dr.f,ing.-
See that you have fast bold of the helm
Tue breakers OF life forever roar under tn
lee, and adverse gales continually blow o
the shore. Are You watching bow SD
heads2 20 you keep hrm grip Of tn
!; wheel? II You give way but for one mo
menl you may drift hopelessiy into th
: toiiing vortex. Young, man take care
II rests with yourself alone, under Cox
whether you reach port ,rinmphsatiy, 6
2 drift 70 rlin, Raasmors SNs.