The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-01-01
Eow the Pacific was discovered.
by GRACE GREENW OOD.

tn golden autumn day, almost three I'D
ltif centuries ago, near the summit of a
mountain on the I%,hmus of paricn. com
pany OF Spanish soldiers and native lndinns
came TO sndden halt They were the party
OF the heroic CaSilon explorer, Nasco Nuntz
dc Balboa. Thus far they had niarcEed from
The colony on the Gulf Of DaTicn, for many
weary days through dense tropical forests,
infested by yenomouS reptiles and fearful wild
htaSts--thlou9h rcstilental swamps and
black, Shiny streams, and over rocky
heights, encounicrlng the most dreadful
fatigue. Illness, hunger and thifst, in the hone
ct discovering a new ocean, rHon whose
shores might lie that country Of whose mar
wells and riches the HavaeoS told such wonder.
ini stories -thc India urp'hich the great heart.
I'd Columbus dreamed when he Get ont on
that great voyage which the wise men of
f''ole i'orsht would end in = plon@c down
S"mc OCEAN cataract, into llacl, claps, a
thousand leagues below tho world.
Balboa lad been assured hy his Indian
guide that from the summit OF certain
mountain, he would behold the gt,ai sea,
whose waves washed TIE shores Of vast ter
rioriea vcined with gold and silver orc
isuu>lHg 'h,ir litile remaining S,rngth. the
daring adventure +, toilrd ~, the rough ascent.
as eager 90 bthnld the promised sea rs were
Tie l>IaeiitcS Of old to catch . sicht of III,
promised land" But Just BE- fore they
reached the highest point their leader com
manded hrlt, and they all paused breath.
less, but reluctant. Balboa had resolved to
he Tie first to behold the Pacific, and he pro.
cecdcd alone to the summit. do net think
that this was noble act, but selfish one.
quite unworthy Of Il tue heart. Surely tlos,
brave followers, who lad SHARED with hin,
all the reliis and hards.ips of the expedition,
Should have had their fun Share in the fist
joy CT discovery. But lac had il all to him
Hrlt-thc glorious sight of that vast placid
occan-llo>c green and ilowcry shorcs-thc
beauty, the grandeur. the mystery Of q new
worl!--i' vas moe them he could hcar IN.
moved. Il, sank ON his knees, and gave
thanks 10 God. ih,n Ly called Hp his Iol.
lowers, ami they cut down It large tree. usd
made Of il n great cross. which they ,rsc.,d
GA the spot, IL sign Of c,HlN,st and riyi'izn-
iion. They al>0 carved the nau'r> Of EHg
Ferdinand and Quycn Isabella upon several
prominent tees -tLna taking possession O!
lie land.
They then descended to the sea shore. and
Balboa having i'll one hand his drawn swold
and N the other the Spanish standa'd, stood
IN the rising tide, and Shouted" Long live
the King ans! Queen Of Castle THUS taking
possession Of the sea.
Perhaps they fingered on the shore til!
nigh, AID saw the sun descend into that
calm, transparent oXIausc Of sta, turning all
the waves into vast s'lcrn of gold, and SCI
ting all the wcS!c,n heavens a4iow with burn
ing splcndorS, til they scc,ucd like the open
gates Of " the golden city," or the mighty
pavilion, Of the King Il Glory"
When the news Of !hiS discovery, of such
inca 'cnlablc importance to the whole world,
reached Spain, it caused great wonder 1e-
i0iciug. and triumph, and the name of Nnyco
NuntZ de Balboa was associated with thast
O! Christopher Columbus and Amcy;cus N,s.
pucius Yet am sorry to add in less .han
our years from Tie time of his Curious dis
covrry, lie was accused Of li>o,ary, and
put to death by tie Spanish Governor Of
Daritn.
So it lit,lc proft,d The brave adventure
that lie had found mighty ocean, on winch
European eyes had never before g&2.d, ard
pointed the world to regions Of cXhauslcs.
lich. Yet lcl lis hope that for him the waters
@: tic otl!tr umkHowm SEA. which lies bctwcyl
Us and the true promised land, " WAS illu
minated ~ the - Sun Of Righteousness, anC
lhat the gates Of the golden city Of Sod were
not closed against him. Little PHgrim.