Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-08-25

ing garments. every one was OF q sad and de-l
jected countenance, as if something calamitous
was at hand. And /, in spite of my efforts, |
partook largely of the dismal feeling, and my
gloom and sadness were heightened by an I'M
usual perception of the truth, that while God
is love, He is q consuming fire to those who
do not love him with all their heart might,
mind, and strength. was sitting on the
quarterback, In the Captains chair, on the
starboard side. Ny head was resting on my
left hand. AL had been quiet for the last
hour. Thessnn had been Fastening down in
the west As sat booking out upon thef face
of the vast dee Evolving in ny mind the
most solemn thoughts concerning death, the
grave and the resurrection, | saw something
in the distance that appeared to be only a
| dark speck resting upon the surface of the
water. As we advanced, it became more and
more conspicuous. The attention of the cap
tain and mate were directed to it. and after
many conjectures as to what it might be, the
telescope finally revealed that 1T was a man
upon a raft All stood and gazed IN solemn
silence as we drew nearer and nearer is
he alive p was asked by one or two, but no
answer was given. We moved along slowly
until we come within a few yards, when all,
with the naked eye, could see one OF our tel-
low-beings upon a raft, sitting upright, and
who to all appearance had been dead some
days!
The raft seemed to be well constructed, and
was made evidently Of broken spars and pine
planks, and was bound together with ropes
By looking at il, one would suppose 1t was
made Tor the accommodation OF seVeral-0u'
only this one person was now upon It. II
had about his waist, I should judge, a leath
Ez -. - 49, slowr u&aar n~l frn., chi
belt proceeded four ropes to their fastening
One of which was before him, one behin'
him and one on each side of him. These pre-
served him in an upright position, though hi
head had fallen forward and rested on his lei
shoulder. AMI his. whole chest was as far il
clined as possible. Slowly he appeared t
pass us. and we in silence stood and gaze
upon him as a ~veiceless yet impressive me-
senger from the other world.
The ocean is a grave yard, thought | an
this is a tombstone floating on its surface.
fancied l could readthe inscription
Other friends-ha gone before;
have. departed;
Be We also ready.
The hardy tar, the courageous and the pr
fame, as they turned from the sight, gave D.
an involuntary sigh, expressive of the ia
that they had read the mournful lesson, al
the solemn prediction of the future. Al
even the captain, hardened and wicked as
was, could hardly speak without tremblt
as he said-'I wonder why that thing shou
come-alohg tozdaTs Poor fellow, he's fms
ed up his PASSAGE The rest all went ava
and used various measures to drive aw
more solemn thoughts than they were will
to own to, but | turned my chair about a
sat and watched that raft with as gloomy a
as solemn feelings as1 ever experienced,
til at last it was lost in the distance and
shadows of night. Months have passed sir
this little circumstance TRANSFERRED, but let
remembrance of that raft, on which sat
body of a departed spirit, make me soler
and bring up before me in freshness the VIC
I then made. Then the Lord said unto
Prepare to meet thy God" and my he
responded-''Thy face, 0 Lord, will see
XANTHUS