Smyrna times., 1858-03-11
TIL e TRAM SPORT.
A SCENE ON TIE WATERS.

The great eye Of day was wide open, and
joyful light filled air, heaven and ocean. The
marbled clouds lay moloness far and wide over
the deep blue sky, and all memory of storm
and hurricane had vanished from the magnifi-
cence of that immense calm.
There was but gentle huctuation on the
bosom OF the deep, and the sea- birds floaied
steadily there, or dipped their wings for mo.
ment in the wrealhcd foam, and again wheeled
Sportively away into the sunshine. One ship
only one single ship, was within the encircling
horizon, and she had lain there as if at anchor
since the morning light; for although all her
sails were set, scarcely a wandering breeze
touched her canvass, and her flags hung dead
ON staff and at peak, or lifted themselves un.
certainly up at Intervals, and then sunk again
into motionless repose. The crew paced moi
her deck, for they knew that no breeze would
cOme till after meridian and it was the Sab
bath day.
A small congregation were singing praises
to God in that chapel, which rested almost as
quietly on the sea as the house of worship in
which they had been used to pray, then resting
far off on a foundation of rock in a green val
ley Of their forsaken Scotland. They were
emigrauts, nor hoped ever again to see the
mists of their native mountains. But as they
heard the voice of their psalm, each singer ha
forgot that it blended with the sound of the sea,
and almost believed himself sitting in the kirk
of his own beloved parish. But hundreds of
billowy leagues iniervened between them and
the little tinkling bell that was now tolling
their happier friends TO the quiet house of God
And now an old grey y.headed man rose to
pray, and he'd up his withered harrds in fervent
supplcaton for all around, whom in good truth.
he called his children, for three generations
were with the patriarch in that tabernacle.-
There, in one group were husbands and wives
standing together, in awe of Him who held the
deep in the hollow of his hand; there, youths
and maidens, linked together by the feeling of
the same destiny, some of them perhaps, hop
ing, when they reached the shore, to lay their
heads on one pillow there, children la nd in
md, happy in the wonders of the ocean; and
there, mere infants. smiling on the sunny deck,
and unconscious of the meaning of hymn or
prayer.
A low, confined, growing noise was heard
struggling beneath the deck, and sailor called
with loud voice, Fire, FIRE the ships on
Gre = Holy words died on the ulterer's tongue,
the congregation fell asunder, and trembling
voices, groans, shrieks and outcries rent the
silence of the lonesome sea. No one for
awhile knew the other, as all were hurried as
4 in whirlwind up or down the ship. dismal
heat all unlike the warmth of that beautiful
sun, came stiflingly on every breath. Mothers
] who in their first terror had shuddered but for
themselves, now clasped their Infants to their
breasts, and lifted up their eyes to heaven.-
4 Bold, brave men grew white as ashes, and
hands. strengthened by toll and storm, trem.
bied like the aspen-leaf 'GOne. gone; we are
all gomez was now the cry; yet no one knew
whence that cry came; and men glared re-
proachfully on each others countenances, anc
sirose 10 keep down the audible beating ofthe
own hearts The desperate loye of life drov,
them instinetiyely 10 oStheir stations, and tn,
water was poured, as blythe strength Of giauts
down among the sfnouldering flames. But tn,
deyoaring element reared up into the air !, aps
deck, masts, sails, and lsfrouds were one icrack K
ling and Kissing sheet Of fire. $50
Let down the boals. was now the yell o