Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-19
THREE OF rURegNErF's PROSE POEMS.
A SEA VOYAGE,

A SEA VOYAGE.
Once l sailed in little steamer from
Hamburg to London. We two were the
only passengers-I and little monkey, a
female Nlsiti, that . Hamburg merchant
was sending as gift to his English part
ner.
The little creature was on deck, fast
ened by chain to a bench it strained at
ITS chain, and piped complainingly like a
bird.
Each time that passed by it stretched
out its cold, black hand toward me, and
gazed straight at me with melancholy, al.
most human eyes I took its hand, and it
ceased to pipe and to pull its chain.
We were becalmed. The sea lay there
like motionless, leaden lake. Its extent
did not appear great, for thick fog,
which yelled even the peaks of the mast,
lay upon it. The sun hung like dull,
red speck in this gloomy fog toward
evening, however, it shone forth, and
spread strange, mysterious red over the
sky.
Long, even ripples. like the folds of
massive, silken stuffs, swept back from the
prov of the vessel; they parted, curled,
and then lay smooth, and at last vanished
with splash. The whirlipg foam grew
into balls beneath the monotonously churn-
ing wheel; it became milky, and, lightly
frothing, was scattered around then
flowed along in serpentine streaks, also to
disappear and be swallowed up by the
dense fog.
And incessantly complaining, intolersble
as the monkeys squeak, sounded the
fipl- IL IF bn lk+Io Holl -, L. IL
Here and there seal sprang up, plunged
head over heels, and then disappeared I'M
der the gently curling plain.
The Captain, taciturn man with dark,
sunburnt features, stood smoking his short
pipe, and sullenly splitting into the motion
less sea.
To all my questions he only replied by
short murmurs l was therefore, though
against my will, forced to consort with my
sole fellow. voyager, the monkey.
l seated myself beside tit ceased COM
planning and stretched out it's hand to me.
The continual fog enveloped US in it's
drowsy atmosphere; together we sat there,
sunk in the same unconscious brooding,
like two relations.
| smile now when [ think OF it. II
l felt differently then.
But we have all mothers heart for
children-and it was sweet to me to see
how confdingly quiet the little creature
grew, and how it chung to me, as a friend.
November, 1879.
THE MONK,
l knew monk, hermit, saint. He
lived solely for the delight of prayer, and,
intoxicated with praying, remained so long
standing upon the cold pavement of the
clurch, until his legs below the knees
swelled and became stony pillars. They
lost all sense of feeling-still he stood there
and prayed.
understood him-perhaps envied him
even-and he also will understand me, but
be shall not break his staff upon me, for l
cannot attain his joys.
He has succeeded in annihilating his de-
tested Self; but, If l am unable TO pray, it
is not because of self-love.
To me Self is perhaps even more burden
some and hateful than it was to him. He
has discovered that in which he forgets
though not for ever.
He lies NOT, neither DO l Iie.-Novem-
Der, 1879
We WILL STRUGGLE.
What an insignificant tride may often
give quite different turn to the affairs OF
men
Once 1 went pensively along the street.
Dark forebodings filled my breast, de-
spsir took possession of my being.
1 raised my head. Straight
before me, between two rows OF poplar
trees. stretched the way like an arrow.
Aud over against the path, some ten
PAGES distant from me, a family of spar
rows were hopping about in the marsh
sprightlY, merry, and full of confidence
One in particular drew attention to HIM
self by the fearless way in which he hoped
about ; he swelled out his breast, and
chirped as impRdently as if the devil him
self could not harm him. Without doubt
some couqueror
Meanwhile, high overhead in heaven, a
hawk was wheeling, whose intention per.
haps was to devour this same conQueror.
l saw this, it made me laugh, and took
courage; the gloomy thoughts vanished !;
felt once more courage, enterprise, vital
power.
May not also hawk be wheeling above
my head The devil himself
We will struggle November, 1879