The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-11-16
Ready for Emergencies.

There is, indeed, a faith that re-
mains composed even in a scene so
awful as a burning ship at sea. 1t
Is ready for life or death. and satan
foiows in vain to find some strait
for which it is unprepared, in order
that he may mock ut its misery and
rejoice in its failure.
One can hardly imagine situa-
ton more appalling than to be
aboard a burning ship far out at
sea. 1t was once the fate of a citi-
zen of Montgomery to realize some
thing Of the horror that chills the
soul at the sound of the solemn
words, 1.-The ships on fire"
Sailing from New York, one cold
bitter morning in February, for the
Island of st. Thomas, the good
ship made fine Roadway over the
rolling waves, and by night was far
out of sight of land, steaming away
towards a summer cline. All had
retired, and the great ship glided
on through the gloom like 4
thing of life, at home, on the waves.
About one o'clock some of the
passengers were aroused by hasty
steps and ominOus voices. Hastily
dressing, they were soon on deck.
whats the matter" said q pas
senger to another, who had pre-
coded him.
The ship is on fret
rs there danger" was eagerly
asked.
81 do not know, but heard a
sailor say as he passed, t is too
late"
The evident confusion us well as
these potentous words were well
calculated TO make him expect the
worse. He looked abroad over the
deep, as far as his sight could pene-
-rate the darkness, but not n ray
Of light illumined the gloom; the
5ullen sound of the rolling waves
seemed TO say, "thcre is no pity
lere.' He looked up to the distant
stars and their dim and dreamy
)rbs seemed to respond 1--WE are too
far to afford help" And
hen there arose above the roar of
he waves--out Of the darSncss-ou
If the darkness out Of the deep 81
cnce of a helplessness so pitiful--
he still stall voice." in the sweet
ointment Of the psalmist: "If l
lwell in the uttermost parts of the
ca, even there shall thy hand lead
ne and thy right hand shall hold
Ie.' 1t was sweeter than the light
# the stars; it was more sublime
han the boundless breadth Of the
ca.
Next day the captain informed us
e had never endured such agony of
oul, rs he had during that half
our of confusion and alarm. He
lad suffered the ship TO leave port
Nth a new crew and he was delay
ne a day or two TO do what should
ave been done before he set sail
he sailors were not drilled in their
utiog; they ala not know where the
ose and buckets and other needful
Kings were, and so when the first
nate saw a great blaze amidships,
aused by a burning mattress, that
houghtless sailor had placed on the
,oilor to dry, sOoao Of confusion
nd dismay followed such as he
ould never forget. IL taught him
S never before, that in such
n hour as he thought not, the
larm might sound. Never after
hat did the passengers have any
ear of fire for they saw that the
aptain and his crew were watchful
nd well prepared for any cmergen
y. There was never any conius-
IN, and the first tap of the bell set,
t once, every man in his place.
The captain had learned how i'm
ortaut it is to be prepared for every
Mt sea. And yet there
as another lcrson far more impor
mt which he seemed not to learn:
was the lesson that Stonewall
ackson's faith taught is the
,sson which all the human uncer-
antics, and perils, and eXperien
es, teach. 1t is in the words Of
linn who spai1c as never man spake:
Be We also ready, for in such an
our as We think not the Son Of
IAN cometh. - Ala. Progress.