The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-20

pellor throws up and back shower of
brilliant flashes, and in our wake is the
long line of phosphorescent light white
stars, as Of the milky way, strew and
diamond the infinite spaces overhead :;
fitting clouds give some sombre touches
to the scene; while o'er all, the moon
rides in her gentle glory, letting fall her
rays on certain waves In rain of purple
all varied by the gases and strange re-
Elections which the vapors of the air and
the changes of the ocean give to the night
OF wierd, enchanting beauty, on the great
deep. What wonder that strange unut-
terable thoughts leap from the recesses
OF the brain as we look up into such a
heaven? Why is my own being so dark
and incomprehensible to me, when the
very worlds of brute matter flame with
splendor? Why is not my own reason
clear as the moon and radiant as the
stars? Why is not the horizon of my.
thoughts as vast as the horizon before
me? True the light Of the great stars
would be lost if it did not brighten the
human face. True the universe would
be blank book-a hieroglyphic without
an interpreter, if it was-not contemplated
by soul. But the spirit itself-with
an infnitude above-an abyss beneath {:
What interior light has it? Nothing but
the few words which fell from the lips of
the Nazarene, calling the soul to faith,
sublime in its simplicity here, and pro-
phetic of an Immortality hereafter.
Our voyage was further enlivened by
a sight of school of whales-fve in
number-disporting and spouting, in full
view, apparently taking no note of the
steamer, the modern Leviathan, so near
them. In this particular of curiosity we
beheld, shortly after, practical illustra-
ton OF the fact that not all the denizens
Of the deep are so devoid of curiosity as
the whale. When four hundred miles
from the English coast the whole ship,
captain, crew, and passengers, were
shocked out Of all stoicism by the appear
ance OF the tiniest vessel in the distance
ever probably beheld on the Atlantic
Ocean. 1t was but an infnitesimal
schooner or skiff, twenty feet long, with
one sail, and the American flag floating
at the masthead. Two men sat in the
stern, with no more room than merely to
steer the miniature ship, and certainly
not enough to stretch lengthwise. The
great steamer was stopped and the
strangers hailed "Ship ahoy whittier
bound IT. "From London to New York, {"
was the answer. The two men refused
all offers of assistance, and with sang
t''o1d that was thoroughly, American,
asked if we had any mail for New York.
Meanwhile a large white object was
plainly perceptible, following 1t was a
man-eating shark The men asserted
the fish had followed them all morning.
Curiosity doubtless, allied with lively
anticipation of meal Our engines were
started, and the little boat parted from
US. That minny of a ship, bound for
New York with two audacous Ameri-
cans In the stern, now appearing on the
crest of wave, and then disappearing
totally in the trough of the sea, plainly
followed 6ythe curious man eati,aq shark,
was the most thrilling and sublime. sight
it has ever been our lot to behold in MANY
voyages across the Atlantic.
And now we draw near to the ENGLISH
coast, and at last see the dim dark line of
land stretched like band across the
eastern horizon, and catch the blest vision
OF the white surf as it leaps back from the
cliffs. We sweep by the Pentland hills,
among which William Penn planted his
residence on returning from Pennsyl-
vania, and steam along the fair Isle Of
Wight until the lights of Southampton
glimmered in the distance, and weigh
anchor, with thankful hearts in the broad
harbor. LIMO
Augustus Schwab, the leader of the
European fugitive communists in New York