Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-12-08
SOUTH PARIS MAINE, TUESDAY. DECEMBER 8. 1896

danger 10 lie anu llmO, Dy OeinR nuTleu
to the floor or against the sides Of the
boat; and none Of the passengers at
tempted to leave their beds, where all
available articles were utilized to pad
the sides, to prevent the bruising OF the
head and limbs. Not an eye was closed
In sleep all those long-tO-be-remembered
days and nights.
The ship had been turned into a hos
pital and morgue, for two were dead,
one committed to the deep, and one car
ried in the iifeboat In the rigging,
changing II into deathboat Two more
had been at deaths door, and all were
exhausted and prostrated with the effects
of this fearful experience.
After this long week OF battling OF the
81 ip with the elements Of destruction,
and Of human souls with the great de-
stroyer, there are no words TO describe
the sensation when ut last one night at
midnight the raging Of the tempest was
stilled. and peace came over the face Of
the waters And, though with II came
that dense, impenetrable fog, which the
mariner fears far more than storm or
tempest-for even though they carry
lights and throw up rockets for signals,
and keep the fog-horn sounding contin-
ually, IL Is impossible to see yard be-
fore the ship to avoid collision with
other vessels--still we cared not then
for anything but the relief that stillnes s
gave TO the body worn with tossing and
tumult.
The next morning was the Sabbath,
beautiful and calm, and the bell sounded
to summon all to divine worship. Here
all differences are forgotten, for at the
throne Of grace one man is as good as
another. All the sailors that were not
on duty came in with their faces cleanly
shaven, and neatly sttired in their sailor
costumes: all the second and third class
passengers that wished TO, and other at
tendsnts on the ship that could be spared
IL you can have any idea OF heavenly
music, then be sure that the voices OF
those sailors. lifted up In hymns OF
praise, ms we lay on our couch, yet un-
able to leave IL, made the most angelic
music that ever fell on our ears. The
captain read the service, and In few fit
ting words offered up thanks for the
safe deliversnce from the peril OF the
waters, and you may be sure that all
hearts responded amen"
When we at last emerged from our
room. more dead than alive, with an at
tcndsnt at each side, we were almost
struck dumb BY the attentions and so
licitude shown US on every side. Hands
were outstretched To clasp ours, and
every one, whom we had no idea ever
knew such person existed, called Us
by name; and ever after that, we never
ventured from the cabin, but arms were
stretched out to hold up and guide the
tottering footsteps.
We have now TO record that most im
pressive and awe-inspiring event, a
burial at sea. The fellow passenger
whose room opened from ours, had been
waiting many days for the final disso-
luton, and 1t was our privilege TO hold
her hand, and whisper In her ear the
words OF that sweet old hymn,
Jesus can make = dying bel
Feel son. "A. .downy pillows arc"
at the last moment, when radiant
smile o'er-spread her face. We know
now for what purpose we were sent on
this voyage across the deep. All the
tumult, all the danger, all the regret
was forgotten In the blessed mission OF
being permitted To sooth the dying pill
low OF one Of the suffering ones OF earth
A service was held on board ship and
then the mortal who had taken on i'm
mortality, robed not In the sable vest
ments OF the grave, but In the white
sheet and canvas OF the ship, was car
ried with reverent hands To the deck,
and IA the captain solemnly repeated
the words, ave commit this body To the
deep, II was lowered from the rail,
" here the little knot OF fmourners-those
who had been permitted to perform the
last serviccs-the one distant relative,
the stewardess, the doctor, the captain
and the one who received the last press
ure Of the hand, stood hand In hand,
and saw the waters close and fasten
down with silver clasp OF ripple; and
we turned away with feelings too unut-
terable for words or thought. Verify,
oh pilgrim, II thou art denied thy prom
ised repose on the lap Of Mother Earth,
how blessed TO be lulled TO everlasting
sleep on the tenderly throbbing bosom
of the Father Of Oceans!
At last came the glad cry OF Land
ahead!" and no shipwrecked mariner
could be more glad 10 reach his native
land than are we TO see the land OF the
stranger. We could almost kneel down
and kiss the soil, AS did our friend OF the
steersge, with tears streaming from his
ewes that had not beheld for forty years
his mother country.
MARTHA MAXIM.