Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-02-21
floating ou, Of the usvs hollous beyond
towards the far hosison!

towards the far hor,ssa!
I throw my body over The stsrn. and
heard distinctly several splashs In the ss-
ter Close besids me. struck out stronsly,
heartily. with . mighty human ~'il the.
made waves nothing. ! blssssd God Tor
my strength. I felt no clothes on. no hin.
drsnee iroa them st least, and I struggled
through the water. half in 10 and bali on,
Of il. with my eye fI-d on ono spot. where
now and then. I could zee li,,ls 'peck.
:. Courage! :" I said to myself" courage!
swim coolly; draw long 5reaths; do not
waste yoursclf;" and called out. "Ons
moment. Charlie only pne moment. sod
you are in my arms Keep your head up;
do no, ding your arms about; b. quiet and
have no iear.;" and a. nesred my syes
eaush, his - mihns-and mine became
uau.dIed. I saw nothing moro-no'hing
but his eyes. Brave arms do no, fsil me-
murmured. ga moment mors and ! AVE
him" I stare fIcdly on the 'pot-scran-
bio over the water TO it-l smAt 10; IL 10
vacant-and I rlunse. with what lie God
ha. leit me. The sen-es u seeing and hear
ing are shutu up. but. stretching down vague.
ly through the dark water. touch. with
this hand. four little fingers which seem to
clo.e on nine. and shake them.
Then oil !. blank
Yc. th. horny. old withsr-d hand touch
Ell h, th. last IN this world. and, when ny
poor voyage oi life s drawing to close.
and AIN making Tor iha, port where ihers
are no storms, or quick sands, or rocks. !
believe faithfully, hope fully, and humbly.
that As the great cloud wave overiAkes me.
out Of 1t. depth OF darkness will come that
little hand, aud, ela'p'ns nine. Iead me
with cheerful words beyon! the shadow
towards the Judgment scat.
Vas long unwell and in bed. ba, as |
grew better | gradually learned tia. along
with me. Eve Of my saIIAn, crew had jumped
into the water that che-rily. and with .
will. thoss lei, ON board bad boat launched
in bali tho time they would have tat-n IN .
quiet harbor 10 q calm day. aud that my
mAts had reached mo 10 her just as. after,
twice diving. . good man called James ALI
.,ou, had fetched me to the surIaes. that
the rec, OF my brave fellows were picked rP
much spent and exhausted. and that, on
getting on board again and hosting the
boat. oil tho former sail Was made on the
.hip in deep silence. unbroken BY one word.
which made my mate fancy. rs hs told me,
We had sailed into another world. where
there wa, no land, aud but one great 'sA.
with only our old ship on IL.
No harsh word was ever again heard in
our vessel. no order had to be repeated. or.
in many instances. even given. My mates
aud crew seemed to anticipate all my wishes,
and to be Away. trying to iorr''alI my de-
sirc,. and their necessary duties. We were
90, ,ad. either. Our sun was, as IL we're,
eclip.ed but We had gained the kno~ledss
that II va. only M eeliIse. and ss ~sro
no, astronomers enough 10 calculate tho
,im, Q, iis passing oG, bot had faith TO be-
liers it would N soms time be known TO
Charlie.
Since than. dear sister. this hand has
touched nothing vile or false ii has handled
pitch bu, not been deGlei it has sIsned no
false n,niie,, or duplicate invoice with
amsudei figure. on IL, IL has signed many
bill Of lading, beginning. by the grace
ol Cod" whoss contents were 10 me sacred
a. q leaf from the Bible. IL has Pas my
name 10 nothing but what was honest and
true, and have tried to keep IL from con.
tact with all rude and worldly work as
much as could. II, at any time. when
gloomy or sad has seemed my solitary life,
| have been tempted To liit that glass which
nigh. ha,o heated the brain too much
wha, wes spiritual and invisible hand drew
mine down. and mads me replace u un.
tas,sd7 Whose. but little Charliss' Or.
| il nv arm has been raised ~ strike blow,
wha, stopped ia eager s'rrns'h from DC.
scendips bot the little hand which touched
4, ib, last warm thing in this world !"