The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-23

1 0UlnlpfeSpnce sui n0ldS eacn separate
world in its allotted sphere.
The ever reckless surf wave that comes
dancing upon the sand beach, to thevery
portals of my island domicil, but obeys
the same universal power; and the mad
dened billows-lashed into fury by the
tempest blast, and wreathed into noun
tains of spray and foam around the
sunken reefs, that make the ocean track
a perilous pathway-are alike disciplin-
ed by the all-pervading hand OF Jeho-
yah. He can say to the angered wave
peace, be still. The storms obey His
bidding, and the imperilled seaman,
inst rescued from watery grave, on the
shrouds of his foundered ship, is made
to feel that there is a protecting arm
above him. Do .=....
Here let me say, with the gifted but
voluptuous author of Don Juan, "Oh
ocean | have loved thee from my child
hood, andstill worshippedat thy shrine,
when others turned away in sickly loafh-
ing and dread"
In half conscious infancy-when
"muling and puking in the nurses
arms"-it was the soft lullaby from thy
low moaning wave that sang me to sleep
in the rude pine cradle, or on sainted
mothers Knee. How often, when
!
school," have I stolen from the woody
pathside, and played truant boy, to wan
der along the pebbly beach, or sport, for
an hour, in thy briny embrace. The old
logschoolhouse and its pretenti0us peda-
gogue were forgotten, amid my youthful
reveries by the seashore and parental
authority alone ever made me return to
their hated regime.
Each passing ship was then an object
of mysterious wonder to me; and as her
white sails bellied to the freshening
breeze, and her low sides careened upon
the seething waters, | marvelled that
the next bounding billow did not engulf
vessel and crew. .U.l
That boyish delusion has, long since,
passed away. Experience and the sober
teachings of the school room have solved
the mystic problem of "a sailing ship; but
time nor tide has ever effaced that in
born love of ocean scenery, which grew
into life, ere l had learned to lisp the
venerated name of father Memory has
canonized these infant dreams, and only
; the grave, which yawns before me, can
t consign them TO an oblivious past. The
: roar of yon pearly breaker is still dear
e to me. 1t seems to sound the knell Ovel
: thoughts that breathed and hopes thai
: lived when life was young.
In the lonely hours of night, "when
9 the death-like images of the dark "
Y would cluster around my sleepless couch,
) I can seem to hear, in that deep, plain
2 tive moan, an old familiar voice,
- "That watts me to my childhood back,
: As il trod its very track,
t And felt its very gladness."
Alas! These old haunts, once so in
: MIGRATING, now bring no peace to my
aching bones, nor firmness 10 my totter-
> ing step. Like some toil-worn Crusader
II from the Holy Land, | come back, witt
u pilgrim staff and sandals bare, to treat
l. this spreading beach again. There lie
i. the self same shell~paved shore. AT IN.
~ feet the same dancing breaker rolls. TIL
Is sea-gull still skins along the creste,
10 billow, and lazily flaps his wings, as
in mockery of mans impotence to soa
above this grovelling earth. Afar OIL
upon " the shadowy waves playful SUI
l. steamer, laden, perhaps with disband
d ed soldiery-soine OF them yet red
e handed from the battle-felds of th'
h Sunny South. Thank Heaven ! tina
IS war is over; and, l trust, that peace
will now endure again 81 to scatter o'e
e a smiling land" Here and there the
a white sails of a returning commerce do
), the rich blue horizon around; and
re when the curtain of night have shu
Of out the common and garish sunshine
e the lighthouse fires blaze before me
.e and seem to twinkle like distant star
1. on Eternity's brink.
d This grand expanse of waters is still
g, undimned by the frosts of wintry age
1t Gods everlasting Finger has protecte
70 His ocean domain from blight and dc
1t cay; but where, oh where, are the brigh
: visions, that used to greet my youthful
If survey of the far-stretching scene: TIL
n salt sea airs no longer brace my totter
!, ing steps with elastic spring; and tn
!; heaving billOw no more welcomes m
: to its turbulent embrace. In vain do
Q stagger along the naked strand, and il
d vain implore rs health-giving virtues n
+ of old. Like the cold dull ear OF a self
@ ish world it hearkens not TO the voc
r of affiiction and woe; and ] turn away
with blighted hopes and humbled mien
IS to eXclaim in the solitude of my cham
s. ber-"Tby will be DONE"
@ And now, Miss **x**, be pleased tC
}, pardon these troubled thoughts, that
If have come yelling up from a troubled
brain. TO the Tight of heart you must
look for brighter inklings to fill out these
yet unwritten leaves: mine can no lou
!, ger reflect the case, grace and purity
IL which, i pray Heaven, may cleave &c
: your gentle spirit through all its aftel
e trials. But care and grief are insepara
n BILE from thy woman's lot; and, wher
/ the dark hours of sorrow come, remem
II Der the,beautiful teachings of that sub
81 lime faith which you profess, and-Foy'
> yet not end. i... SENEX.
# MR.. SEWARD AND THE FENIAN BUsI
/; NEss.-The Albany EUening Journo
l. says in regard to the prevailing report
2. that Mr.. Seward has furnished til
!. British Government with important il