The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-02-14

The day had been serene, and at even
ing there was not vestigc of living
thing upon the trackless bosom of the
deep, not sound broke the monotony of
the calm save now and then as our lazy
ship tapped her white wings against the
mast in the long swell Of the ocean not
ripple disturbed the CLASSY surface of
the waters in whose iathomlcss depths lay
the image of our ship with masts and sails
complete.
The passengers, who during the day
had in vain endeavored to while away the
long and weary hours with books and
games or in lettering about the sides of
the ship gazing into the blue depths
beneath, were now gathered in little groups
upon the quarterback to witness the
glorious spectacle.
The sky was cloudless, save that on the
distant eastern horizon there was a hazy
tinge that mingled sky and water in one
vast blue expanse. The sun, like huge
ball of molten gold or more like liquid
fire slowly descended as tito qucnch itself
by plunging into the watery waste.
Steadily it fell till its glaring orb seemed
to touch the water then on a sudden rose
burst Of surprise from the admiring
crowd, as it bounded back for an instant
as if loath to hide itself so soon, but only
to plunge the deeper moment after.
Then between us and it there seemed a
beaten pavement of purest gold leading
to realms ofendless light, like that spoken
of in the New Jerusalem. The orb grew
less and less till but narrow strip OF
glory remained. Minutes seemed to pass
and yet it fingered as if it could not die.
"Will it ever sink ?" broke from dozen
lips, when 10 twas gone. Long after it
became invisible the trail of its royal
robes cast radiant sheen over sea and
sky, whose gradually softening splendor
invited the admiring gaze. Twilight
gathered round us, and soon the entire
armament above was in blaze of stellar
glory planet satellite, and star harmon.
ously shed down a flood ofheavenly light
undimmed by single cloud and all re.
Elected in that boundless liquid mirror
The sky beneath answered to the sky
above in magnifed ,softened, and multipli.
ed refulgence, so that our noble ship
seemed to glide over pathway strewed
with diamonds and precious stones Of
every glowing hue.
Ere the rapt and astonishcd soul had
ceased to wonder and to worship, and tc
attempt to grasp the sublime magnifcence
of the scene, which long ago furnished
the angelic choir with the burden of theil
rapture and ecstacy, "when the morning
stars sang together, and all the sons Of
God shouted for joy" the weiredlikt
aurora shot up its shimmering columns o
CHASTITY radiance far into the sky, flicker
ing now and then in fantastic forms ant
shapes more spirit like than any cloudy
phantom pen or pencil ever drew.
How all human pageantry dwindle
into empty show and vanity before thes'
wondrous works of Him who doeth al
things well ! And yet how noble is thu
human soul, made in Gods own image
capable Of communion with him, of assimi
lation to him, and able in some sligh
degree to apprehend both Him and hi
works. Grander far is it than the mos
majestic orb that decks the brow Of night
Far more does it exhibit Of the glory o
its great Creator than the most glorious
spectacle heaven, earth, and sea combined
ever presented. DIAL.