The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-08

cannot thus express themselves-how
much he felt her influence, yet all did
feel it. The oldest growlels, men
who felt it their duty to growl, such
as old Dick Murray and Tom Halli-
day, although they winked and turned
their quid as she passed along the
deck in her walk, yet appologized In
their own way by saying, She's a
fine craft, anyhow ,-ship-shape. Bris-
tol fashion. all taut from keel to truck,
and no mistake.
The Clyde moved along on her long
voyage from day to day, the great
dome of the blue sky ever covering
the one ship in the centre of the blue
sea. only now and then dotted by an
other sail passing like a seas bird in
the far distance Each day, however,
had its own characteristic weather;
for each day, like each persOH, has a
history that no other ever had or ever
will have The course of one day was
not, in the ocean below, in the sky
above, or in the air around, the same
as that of the previous one, except in
the foam at the head of the ship, or
in her wake astern. She was moving
in the vast, shoreless sea, over IN
known depths peopled with unknown
creatures. AS for the crew, every face
became stereotyped, and one wondered
how it was that ship did not become
home of brothers, who could not
afford to quarrel. or be other than
close friends. But the contact of
bodies Is not contact of spirits, and
mere outward fellowship within wood
en- walls, even with the question of
life or death constantly presenting it
self, often produces a separation the
more complete from the very circum-
stances which prevent greater phys
zeal separation. The lady, by a subtle
electricity, bound them together.
It may seem odd to some that she
should have dared to propose prayers
and Bible reading on Sundays. But
she did it, in her own quiet, apollo
getic, loving way, until the favor she
asked was felt to be favor bestowed.
1t was wonderful how her reading Of
appropriate-and most appropriate
they were-passages of Scripture, with
hymn and prayer, touched those
rude hearts. They did not reason
about her unselfishness, but felt it;
they did not ask if it was love that
prompted her, hardly knowing what
that was, but they were the better and
happier for all they heard.
Rum un, Jack?' observed one
sailor.
Uncommon, Fred" he replied;
I'm blowed if | make her out."
Nor |, said. Fred; but she's a
good IN, and minds me of my cousin
Kate"
WELL" said Jack, /" I was think
ing of my uncle Bill, the Methodist,
the best | knows"
So both agreed she was uncom-
mon"
1t was a new thing to see the men
turning their hitherto unused Bibles
out of their kits. To read them, and
confess they were saints? o dear.
no! not that yet. but only to recollect
what = the lady" was saying, and to
read what she had asked them to
read.
Come along, Tom, you're a schol-
ard, one would say; overhaul, will
you, what the lady asked us to read"
The lady kne " not what a light of
true love from Heaven she was to this
crew-what ships light, chart and
compass. She knew only that she
loved her brother, and this because
she loved a common Father. At
length her influence was fully estab-
| lished by case of severe sickness
which occurred on board. It is un-
necessary to detail its features and
progress, or to say how, with a wo-
mans delicacy, grace, and tact, she
ministered to the sick. God-like,
woman thus perfects strength in weak
ness. She heals the body through
the greater powers of the heart; or,
failing the body, she more than any
other can heal the spirit, and thus
give health and life which are ever
lasting.
The Clyde encountered heavy gale,
when within a few hundred miles of
Cape Clear. 1t had increased day by
day, until it seemed steady as law of
nature. The ship was forced back
along her old course. She had to lie
to with close-reefed foretop sails for
days together. The voyage was very
protracted. They were not only days,
| but weeks behind their time Wau-
chope was getting angry, and seemed
to blame the sailors. Macintyre
moved about necessarily as if he would
walk to land and bring the ship with
him. Green seas came on board more
frequently than were agreeable. The
weather vas cold. Heavy squalls with
showers of sleet became common.
They sailed on amidst spit and spray,
a gray, wet horizon walllng in the ship.
The lady could not come on deck.
She was not seen even at meals, but
was closely confined 10 her cabin or