Litchfield enquirer., 1865-01-12
THE ExkA RATION.
BY zRs L. GOODWIN.

BY Akssf l.. GOODWIN. " s+--- ~
 Alone bns the exIlAss of ocean-as the ark when it foated over Srrarat fixed in her pu- sitinn, like the pidired ship. never iui,hsr l from the port behlna; pr nearer to that be- fore. which the schaoAb,y pauses to look at daily in turning overbis aifas-lay the Hal ilcyene. q New Ymk berchantman. beca4med alter being driven esthf her course ny Sc were gale. on her h1tb9passage from the East I Uns.irrAd by ;t brpstiltBf wind. her signat of distress dropping tolte mast; but aanntiny .ath,ve was the flag oji Il unseen enemy who had stealthily b.mrtledfh4 ship and the sail ors. as they paced ihseeck shuhdered to feel I heating oyer them tiab black shadow of Fam | iGe. @ My men sail aeom mander, addressing l hi. crew who hid cats forward at his order. | and stood in spectrelfr,np Il never thdsyht 1 tu see day lik. tItissl Would God 1 cnnld ntier words more h.stful. But it ia proper you should und ..rs,ahdf he necessity for forti- tusie t0 meet the priStions before us. Our provisions are exhaustet At good sailing we are six days out No tlanye oi weather can be expected before illst hirl day hence. whrn the moon will entrr ltr first quarter. My brave fellows ynurratids are reduced 10 hatf biscuit a day; and MiAtever your surft.rlngs may be. thank God ball share them. He dismissed the crew with wave If his hand. turned suddenly. hs though unable any longer to bear the sight # those wan faces ;- or perhaps he hastene.ts to h,de :he emotion W ich had frce,l ont hisbrief sentences i'll .n unnatural voice, lik.. thair of Il person in ex- trenle pain till the final words were gasped forth scarce anlibly his hreks wet with tears He was full of generous Issard for his men ;- a youthful commander. t1 1wh"m ths black ter TOT @hch had coiie iipai theui wds entirely new. A sound, Ietweea.. sob aud moan burst from the lips tt he youngest ot the sailors, q mere lad. almnsl eirl-liK" in de'icacy of apnparance then sisalty as sha ows the crew filed town the eatgway stairs. except "n', who fingered to spesk with Captain Nor. wich alone.
 It may be wrong tlpuble you. sir, but if you would permit ne lt war,i 2
 C-etainy LvJstose.' said the commander. returning his sick gate from the sea of glass which surrounded tl,-si,ip What is it?
 It's on Elwin's arfeunt. Sir. Yen do not. I presume. know the Ieeret of our attachment to t,iir :inoihar.'
 Perhaps nns,' retulne,i the Captain, with a penetrating glance. II reenIlect that d lovely
 
 board to bid you two farewell
 A flash of th. eye tol tae young sailor ap- preci.itinn. His sister, Grace Graitan and ], are betroth-i.' said he aan,ly. Grace and Edwin have been prIskasrs from childhood = Of Course if5wls very wf,ng in me, but did Hnt know what was GtSt.g. wn-n I excited the boy hy 8. s.a-storips. tilthe was W Il to 7" too When saw this. A lied Him in per shading Grace. and at l;.naib We gained her eensei,'. There w,.f,. no diners to De con ya,,, 3wbat fns als.riis :iy sl shown what songs he has sung every day since leaving the l,ars,or of New York. and how hari he has tried to please. and ll,.w he has all along been d general f.vorite. Well. sir. within the last eight ani forty honrs all is changed with him, He pues i.. lis berth, and nothing Can rouse him or tnrn his thoughts from the idea that we are all certainly tn per iSh "l hunger. He has grown pxtrrm-y weak SD that h | HOW he had to be helpei io turn out. cannot help thinking. sir if evil should come to Edwin. how should answer for it to his sister. who loves hini most devc,e,lly.- Please. you Capt. Norwich, can you counsel mo how to act?'
 I have observed the poor lads altered ap- pearance. the other replied symptiielic.lly and standing with stsopin. shoulders ant, cor rngated brow. lonking for ! no.nhnt aa Il -h rtla ssf s1 ce.larV !. .tAisa s.l. e.sf tai its s. ere ,npYass H. ,. least fitted for trial lik- tiis iis must iIe ciieesett dnd pursai. l have , sinaia baftis of wafa left, and witl i3fing hn sittle preaa1t., Yna must keep him company, and divert hiul as much as pos siblp.'
 With lightened anI grateful heart Rolli, Ly,lstone qui,tr.i the deck and follow, d hi. m'ssniates to the cabin. H. found the object of his anxieties asleep. lying pile anI m"ti'.n- less. almost ais one dead while bending uver him with his warn heart and ron,ii exterior was the old .st of the crew. Ja"k Ilarisp,r = The tw, frienns were obige.l to suspend their own hreaths, in Orl.r to catch the futtering respiration of the little invalid. respiration nut sufficient to stir leaf of tlre Testament that lay open on his breast, where he had bee,, realing.
 An hour after. when all save F. Twins gnar kian had r-tipd tn their h-rlhs. CApt.in Nor wicE came ia anH administered the promised cordial afteraarri taking seat by Lyds:one $ side. Together they watched the br .v-r beat. ing "f the pulse. ard gradual spreading of a lish' flush oyer the cheeks. Bs.and-by Eiwin unclost,i his eyes and sneh and shortly sat up and conve sel He sappos d he had been asleep for considerable tnne and inquired uI the Captain whether there had cume any change of weather
 thrre gre signs. mydear boy the other ye- piled evasively, and bidding him keep stout lInari rlt;red to his own cabin.
 Often in tine Course pf that night was the question repeated. and as he listened ,vainiy fn th- sound of the wind returning to the sails, Edwin would heave sign after sigh. in ich his young life seemed ebliing away unchecked. Toward morning, fl ,shIsg strange. eararst gazs at his watcher hs tsked: Why do you not cali the Masterf'
 Captain Norwieh--io yau wish to see him?
 Q no :! we want HIN who works miracles the CHRIST. liE is in tse nler part Of the ship asleep. l read it lere.' pointing as if h.. held houk before h S klc.. We are tlsci. pies. you know, sailing on the sea of G.llilee ia the midst of tempkt.'
 s' Poor boy. wish I'd the Lord your dream was coming tr,ses 7 grAuei the old tar in the next berth having roSsd ard caught the h t words. You sre.' c.iltinued Jack. explarn- Ing himself lu an imleinary listener. if the ualcyOne was on her teanr ends IF x trough. or had sprung leak and salt water bilin' into her hold, we'd hay. sumeti,in for to keep us up. Obleese,lt tn l9ld hand a dozen Ways to once, or hse yoir life, is what keeps a mans spirits af ,at in aanyer-on sea or shore expect. Why uuirr some circumstances we might starve unb4Si osn Jill we iladn' | flesh i T.. A . sf