Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-06-22

wise seaman will thus prepare and
thus keep watch 70 that though
ihe boat be ilereoly driven by the
contcnllng elements u may be car
riod past al danger and onward 70
lhe wished for haven. Notall are
a. prepared and tho ocean has
swallowed many a wreck, which
now lies rotling beneath the
waves. The voyager have disap-
peared leaving no trace Of their
exlsianoe except IN the tears Of
friends who saw thcm perish or
knew them to be lost. Yet no
boat leaves the shore unless ap-
peamnces promise a successful
voyage. Tho storm j. past or
considered improbable, the breeze
is prupiiiUus, the skies promise
fair weather, the waters are gentle
and the boat siaunch. No voyage
is commenced in the face Of alarm
ing indications Of danger But TO
traveller ON the wide and open
sea there is no telling Whit a day
may bring forth. The smiling
skies may put on an angry frown,
black clouds may hide the bcauti-
ful blue, the soft breeze may change
to a cyclone, the ripping waves
may become furious billows and
the staunch vessel may, either
through carelessncss or ignorant
handling may succumb with all
means of guidance and become a
drift. Night comes ON and cnvcl-
opcs the drifting boat; icebergs and
breakers, shoals and rocks threat
en- the unfortunate vessel. Friends
whose blessings went with it yes
terday inquire of il to-day in vain.
No tidings come that the voyage
has been successfully accomplish
ed. Anxious and achcing eyes
watch in vain for its return. From
the time it became a drift upon the
ocean the vessel was doomed.
However well and strongly built
and manned AT first, a boat adrift
is boat at the mercy Of the cle-
mcnts, and unless brave and be-
neyolent hearts and strong and
skillhl hends are..exertcd for res
cue the bark soon becomes a wreck
and sinks.
Life is an ocean which we are
all either crossing or preparing to
cross to gain the beautiful land be-
yond, which is the reward of a
successful voyage; but danger Of
many kinds attend its passage, also
many and many of the wrecks in
and Of life. SO well has this fact
and its causes become known that
the universal cry and demand is
for, education, in order to prepare
for the voyage and to guard against
going astray and adrift; an educa-
ton of body, of mind, Of the NOR
al and immortal part of man. If
one would not go adrift when cast
upon his own resources, he must
have health Of body, strength of
purity Of heart and an
honest purpose. But we see young
men every day who are adrift in
fair weather, allowing the little
waves Of pleasure to bear them on
md on, farther away from safety
and nearer to destruction. Is there
no one to give them help? Can
not, and should not we? Must
overwhelming habits, like fierce
pillows cary them out Of sight and
'ar away beyond the reach of help, |
before we utter a word Of warning,
,r perform an act ofrescue? Once |
ldrift upon the sea Of life there is
10 hope unless help is extended |
rom the Gospel Ship. Also, if
hey have strayed so far into the
darkness of sin and amid the roar
If irresistible habits, that they |
,annot hear the warning voice
'alling them to safety; then their
rail barks will soon be wrecked
md 60 down, down not only with
oss of body but with loss of soul.
Let us pause and consider whittier
ending and begin now to keep
constant watch lest we also 60
drift, for the future gives no prom
st of a better tine to trim well our
,arks and govern well the helm,