Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1869-04-03
IMAM Overheard"

Out on the ocean, tempest torn and |
storm dashed, the gallant bark struggled
MS for life in the fierce conflict; down in
the trough of the sea, the pillows wall
ling her in, in the gorge of the watery,
heaving mountain around her, while the
hoarse shrieks of the storm fiend sum-
moning his force for her destruction
rose high above the surging, rushing
battleing forces ofwaves and storm; can
she live in the convulsive agonies of old
ocean, striving for the mastery in this
elemental strife? 1t seems but another
struggle in the Titanic conflict, earth
against heaven; the pillows are piled up
like "Pelion on Ossa )" the hoarse NUT
tering of the storm like the charging
shouts of contending hosts; yes, still
lives; she is righting herself as she
comes up fromthe depth 10 In5sUTn1feUrT
the mountain wave, trembling i'll eve
ry spar and plank like thing of life
but bark above the wild tumult Of the
storm is heard the soul crushing shout
of imam overboaidl and amid the paus-
es of the storm above and beneath you,
us the vessel leaps the mountain wave,
you catch his agonizing shrieks for help!
helpl and It's gone, gone for ever.
How many have launched their bark,
streamer-decked and gully rugged, as
they left the port and sailed out ON the
ocean of life, waited on by the gentle
breezes, and cloudless skies DER head,
and founder d in the dawn? For see as
you stand upon the shore, they're reel
ing as if in the grasp of the maelstrom;
its velocity is increasing; they re in the
jaws of the vortex they, re gone; moth
ing intervenes between your vision and
the horizon, but wide waste of waters
They're gone, forever. "Man over
boord :" yes, their bones are bleaching
ON the sands of the shore of time; piled
up mountain high are the wrecks of the
barks of life that shivered and foundered
in the blast without compass or chart
they sailed out on the treacherous ocean
of life, and were stranded; some are still
on the wave-top riding on the horrible
storm. "Man the life boat !" "pull out
bravely;" ''you may yet keep them of
the breakers !" ''steady;'' steady =
''what no, there's" ''ship ahoy," '"bout
ships" take in sail !" 'h,lm ups
board her, pilot; = there" ''steady :
''now she rights; "she's safe"
'Man overheard will that cry neye
cease mo" "Man the life boat )" "he'i
out on the ocean of danger; guide hin
to saie anchorage"
Eliot, what are you doing? Vessel
in the ofIing, and you sleeping at you
post? Angry waves are lashing INTO foam
and fury the line of breakers that senli
mel the shore; up for thy life, sluggard
inan the life boat; kindle the Leacon
warn them save them!' MAN over
board I" God of heaven! ill that or
never cease? Not Till humanity is re
deemed, and earth has put on the gar
Ineuts OF "A new creation; that cry wi
still go up, and the duty to thy iello'
will lie strictly, terribly exacted office
what are you doing in the great battle {
life? Keeping your light burning in tn
binnacle that only sleds its glare upo
the c. mpass OF thine ow life? The storr
may oNertuke thee, selfish one; han
cut thy light, then, and while it guide
thee ON thy dark some way, it lights u
the path for others that follow on.
out on the ocean OF life keep thy sail
well in hand, mariner; beware of rock
and reef, as thy bark drives on; kee
thy bearings well the headlnnds of
brighter shore are in view; the light {
eternity is gliding hill top and plain a
you are nearing the land; the danger
are passed no sunken shoal or hidde
rock in thy pathway now; thy pennar
streaming from masthead, waving in til
zephyrs ofheaven, has caught the ga7
of thy companions who sailed on beior
10 the land of promise, and they thron
the shore to greet thee as thy anchor
cast in haven of pence; safe at home, III
strife fliie's battles has ceased; the ever
ing of life ushered in the dawn of II
ending felicity, that shall parallel I'll
existence of Deity itself; through ii
unmeasured roll of eternity, on in Il
great march of advancing beauty an
lory, thine immortal nature shall rol
tsclfiu the attributes oflove and jov.