Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-09-10
sEAWARD
An ESSAY READ DY Nss coRDIE TiLOEN.

To-day there are twenty nine Of US that
swing loose from our moorings and stand
out TO the open sea Hitherto we have
been rigging and storing our craft for the
sail of life. The best masters have been
employed in ouL,iit and they have labor
ed faithfully % make us sea-worthy, II
we have failed to secure the best map OF
the ocean, good compass and chronom'
eter, r,-if we have failed TO secure for our
voyage the attendance of the great Pilot,
it is folly for which no after-reckoning can
well atone. Without these we beat helps
lessly 10 eeward, are misguided by mirage
and mist or dismasted and tempest toss
ed for LIES is a perilOus sea. Aye! and
il is fearless thing to be cast helpless
and alone on its illimitable waters
In our present haven we have fingered
awhile, gliding over gentle sunlit waves,
gathering pearls and garlands among the
ilowery islands ofschoolday life; but now
we only wait the ebbing tide, the evening
breeze, and farewell, when we are waited
far ont to see.
The launching of ship or its leaving
for the sea,is an occasionwont to call forth
interest from those who look on. Your
sympathy goes with that to which so much
Of lie is commi tied So it is that while
we are weighing anchor,and unturling our
sail, we see hope reflected from every face.
The shirmasters look on with more than
usual anxiety. They are TO see our tim
Der tried and our efficiency put to the test.
We feel that We 90 more safely for the
pray ers they offer in behalf of those who
70 down TO the seal ships. May we not
be "painted ships upon painted ocean"
Nav the cabled deep hereafter bear some
telegram that shall answer your best wish
as.
Although frail the barks that some Of
us guide, we must stear among shoals and
aulcksonds and among the breakers oil a
deep and treacherous main. lis no un'
;utiled sea, and its maelstroms are a reality.
Our boats are built to encounter wind
and storm; but to lie adrift near the
whirlpool on the rocky coast where hun,
Cry wreckers maddened over pltltul grns
is inevitable ruin We are safe only up-
der our instructions. Through these we
have learned to take our reckonlngs and
To know where we lie following them
with a strong and sure hand at the helm,
we may escape shlpwreck.
But there are perils and trials OF anoth'
er sort Who so makes a voyage OF many
wears must often look upon some yaw ming
chagm Of the engulphing waters-mGst
hang on the crest Of the sepulcAral wave
while it swallows up in its dark depths the
bark that sale along side. Your own
good ship may 20 down to lis ocean grave,
and all save the lhebolt be lost, and it
remain at the mercy OF billow and surge
But if amid the dangers we heed our dl
vine chart: if our anchor reaches to that
within the vail il we may see the triple
cable of faith. hope. and love, flashing a.
mid the angry waters; if we tsaSC to Him
who.
"Pants his footsteps in the sea,
And ridosupon the storm
-"Whose voice the winss obey"
We may ride safely.
May the mariners God save Us from
the frozen death,stillness of the north,
from inactivity, from the moveIess calm,
"where rotting ships lie seething on a rot
ting sea-" May we rather love to do and
dare TO dash aside the curling wave and
ride before the gale.
But ocean scenes are not all sombrehu'
ed to-day. Gay colors float with our PEN
nant. We are buoyed with hope and eX
pectations. There is a JOY in striking out
to paddle our own canoe.
Starting from the haven's mouth, we
shall take different directions, We shall
sail into many ports the wide sea over
We shall apply ouselves to carryi ing the
burdens of lite. Some will sail to the
fearful tropics, some in pursuit OF ambi-
tious trophies to some golden island for a
golden crown or golden fleece. One
NAV with a log book and sea chart aboard,
make observation on distant seas that
shall be useful to science. Another may
sail to heathen lands to carry the gospel
Of Christ. Others of our number may on>
" coast through life. But although our
fleet is so widely scattered, we may some
times meet We shall then hail, Glad
ship ahoyl furl our sail for an hour, but
shall soon hasten away, till each To the
other is out a mere speck on the dim hor
izon of life.
But ere we reach the shores of eternity,
we must each pass the fearful narrows.-
yet SO well has the sea been mapped its
rocks and breakers pointed out, that
though it be the darkness of midnight
our Pilot be with US, we shall ride clear of
all danger ana ,cccacb the sure haven, the
Port OF Peace. Then vii, the booming o!
the welcome sentinel gun find US ready TO
moor again together, whsn We are launch
ed on that farther side,
BEAUTITUL EXTRACT.-Let then the aged
woman he no longer the object of con,
tempt. She is helpless as a child, but as a
child she msy be learning the last lesson
from her Heavenly Father. Her feeble
L.. - IrnnnI,linn n,n tho hrilnL of III a