The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-13

hdtl the quickly Udntshing boats.
peace. lwishod that the ordeal were not SO
long delayed. wished that the hurricane
might blow anew, and that the pillows
would rise and overwhelm us at once, SO
faithlsss is man in extremity.
But no fresh hurricane came, only after
a great while there was loud sudden
splash by my berth side. followed by a
sharp cry that made me start in alarm,
though why should be alarmed who had
nothing worse to fear nor better to hope
than of death, is a question cannot an
swer. Start, however, did with fright
ened look into the blackness of darkness
about me to see what uncanny thing this
might be that was disturbing my parting
hour. could of course see nothing, but
presently understood from the splashing
and squealing that the rats were prowling
around and were greatly disgusted at find
ling the cabin floor under water. As for
me, was glad of their company.
IF the creatures could only speak to
me-" said to myself. "If we could only
exchange sympathies and converse togeth-
or on our fate there would be some satis-
faction even YETI
And as lay listening to their interchange
of sentiments which to my ear seemed to
express disappointment, l thought Of the
marvellous instinct, amounting almost to
intuition, which is attributed to rats in re-
gard TO sinking ships An old story oc-
Cured to me, A vessel had foundered in
midocean, the crew took to the boats, even
like the crew Of the Bird of Paradise, and
as the last man was stepping off a company
OF rats appeared and without ceremony or
hesitation leaped into the boats with the
men.
The ship was going down, and they knew
1t. My companions were doubtless en-
dowed with this instinct also. What If the
brig were not sinking after alls 1t seems
an absurd thing to take any comfort from
the actions of rats, and yet wild hope
that might still be saved thrilled through
my heart. One hope begets another. |
went on to think that, since the brig was
settling down so very slowly she might
keep afloat till we should be discovered. A
drowning man clutches at straws, and
hope, as the poet says, springs eternal in
the human breast. Well for us that it Is
sol
The thought that might be rescued kept
with me through the long hours of dark
ness, and when the morning light returned
and found me In no worse plight than had
been in at sunset on the previous evening my
hope strengthened. My physical strength
increased with my mental, and when the
sun was fully up, the sun had not expect
ed to see again, leaped from my bed to
welcome 1t, almost forgetting my fever
Had l Shakespeares gift of expression ten
times over am sure could not half tell
how sweet, how transcendently glorious 1t
was after that night in the tomb to feel
the warmth and mystic potency of the re
turning light.
In the first great burst of joy wondered
why | should ever have been depressed,
so inexplicable do despair and dismal
thoughts become to us in moments of su-
preme exaltation. My heart welled into
my eyes in thankfulness as | drank in the
full deep draft of happiness, and yet
was so full of wonder that more than once
j doubted whether the whole thing were
not vision, trick Of the Imagination. It
was as il Plato's fantastic dream were real
lied, and after ages of immurement In a
subterranean cell a man were brought forth
to behold the rising sun for the first time
Yet the illustration Is incomplete, for while
PlatO's supposltitious character would have
been overwhelmed with awe was filled
with gladness. The creature of Plato,s
dream would have veiled his face in terror
before the SUMS majesty. thrust mine
forward in eager and raj turous welcome.
had risen from the dead Here was the
joyous exuberance of life again lived,
and that was enough. l saw the east kin
dling with I. divine illumination that was
as the light IA ,surrection morn High.
er and higher the blaze of glory rose, till
the flood of life had mounted to the zenith
and held undisputed sway. Death had van.
ished. The world was born anew, fresh,
lusty, jubilant 81 on that primal morning
when the Omnipotent said, Let there be
light" When the great orb showed the
edge of its flaming disk, golden shaft shot
straight across the ocean to the dcrelict
brig. 1t came like kiss of salutation, a
benediction, promise of life. Then, as the
sun rose slowly, monarch of the world, and
the waves of light inexpressibly beautiful
and holy came rolling toward me, was
ready to cry out in worship. o God, how
sweet is life after death-paradise after tho
pitt There are those-miserable philosoph.
ers-who ask with sapient wisdom whether
life is worth living Toss them into danger,
and dare gay they will find an answer tc
theif ally question.