-
Articles/Ads
Article PENCILLINGS FBOM THE SKETCH-BOOK OF A MA... ← Page 4 of 13 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillings Fbom The Sketch-Book Of A Ma...
the means are ill adapted to the end proposed . When the liturgy is feelingly read , the minds of those present become interested , and the attention roused even of the most careless in a congregation . This our observance of the Day of days on the ocean-wave , struck me from its mere simplicity as more truly grand than when , to the soul-moving
vibrations of the deep-toned organ , under the fretted roof of the ancient cathedral , the praises of heaven are wafted aloft by the surpliced choir , and the services conducted with musical pomp and ceremony . .. Certain I am , that to any one whose feelings are in the least degree alive to devotion , there is a something which , for the time at least , serves to engage the mind to feel the utter insignificance
of man , and the grandeur and power of the great and glorious Creator . The helpless condition of the barque borne along now over a placid watery expanse , soon again to be driven to the summit of the tempesttossed wave , and anon lost for an instant in the depth of the surge , once more to ride securely on the bosom of ocean , must cause the man of any reflection to ponder the words of the Psalmist in respect
of those who " go down to the sea in ships , and occupy their business in great waters . " Then as subordinate or auxiliary to the peculiar situation of the voyager , the external propriety of the deck made clean for the occasion , the tolling of the ship ' s bell , the gradual and reverential hushing into silence of the assembled people , the mariners
in quiet attention seated opposite each other in their well-washed and striped shirts on boards supported by the ship ' s buckets , and last , not least , the capstan's head , the extempore pulpit , over which is laid in worthy decency that flag which has
u Braved a thousand years , The battle and the breeze , " at which the beautiful prayer , especially appointed to be used at sea , is offered up , combine to render the ceremony at once affecting , nay more , deeply imposing . In respect of the employment of time afloat , I imagine little difference can exist in any ship ; one day ' s experience is much like
that of another , and I take it as an hypothesis , that this matter is m these days pretty generally understood by the untravelled reader . We youngsters of the John exhibited our capabilities in nautical gymnastics by climbing to the crosstrees of the mainmast , and returning to tho deck by a backstay . A favourite feat on a line day ,
occasioning bets to be lost and won , was to mount to the maintop by means of a slack rope , hand over hand . Scrambling up the rigging , too , when we imagined the sailors did not perceive the exploit , and then , when , slily watching our movements , they rushed after us to
make us pay our footing , cither by agility evading their endeavours at pursuit , or suffering ourselves to be caught and made spread-eagles of , recovering our ' freedom , by a donation of dollars as a ransom , afforded much fun and occasional roars of laughter . The meeting a whip bound for England , by which we could send home letters , was an agreeable break in the monotony of the voyage ; the reading an
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Pencillings Fbom The Sketch-Book Of A Ma...
the means are ill adapted to the end proposed . When the liturgy is feelingly read , the minds of those present become interested , and the attention roused even of the most careless in a congregation . This our observance of the Day of days on the ocean-wave , struck me from its mere simplicity as more truly grand than when , to the soul-moving
vibrations of the deep-toned organ , under the fretted roof of the ancient cathedral , the praises of heaven are wafted aloft by the surpliced choir , and the services conducted with musical pomp and ceremony . .. Certain I am , that to any one whose feelings are in the least degree alive to devotion , there is a something which , for the time at least , serves to engage the mind to feel the utter insignificance
of man , and the grandeur and power of the great and glorious Creator . The helpless condition of the barque borne along now over a placid watery expanse , soon again to be driven to the summit of the tempesttossed wave , and anon lost for an instant in the depth of the surge , once more to ride securely on the bosom of ocean , must cause the man of any reflection to ponder the words of the Psalmist in respect
of those who " go down to the sea in ships , and occupy their business in great waters . " Then as subordinate or auxiliary to the peculiar situation of the voyager , the external propriety of the deck made clean for the occasion , the tolling of the ship ' s bell , the gradual and reverential hushing into silence of the assembled people , the mariners
in quiet attention seated opposite each other in their well-washed and striped shirts on boards supported by the ship ' s buckets , and last , not least , the capstan's head , the extempore pulpit , over which is laid in worthy decency that flag which has
u Braved a thousand years , The battle and the breeze , " at which the beautiful prayer , especially appointed to be used at sea , is offered up , combine to render the ceremony at once affecting , nay more , deeply imposing . In respect of the employment of time afloat , I imagine little difference can exist in any ship ; one day ' s experience is much like
that of another , and I take it as an hypothesis , that this matter is m these days pretty generally understood by the untravelled reader . We youngsters of the John exhibited our capabilities in nautical gymnastics by climbing to the crosstrees of the mainmast , and returning to tho deck by a backstay . A favourite feat on a line day ,
occasioning bets to be lost and won , was to mount to the maintop by means of a slack rope , hand over hand . Scrambling up the rigging , too , when we imagined the sailors did not perceive the exploit , and then , when , slily watching our movements , they rushed after us to
make us pay our footing , cither by agility evading their endeavours at pursuit , or suffering ourselves to be caught and made spread-eagles of , recovering our ' freedom , by a donation of dollars as a ransom , afforded much fun and occasional roars of laughter . The meeting a whip bound for England , by which we could send home letters , was an agreeable break in the monotony of the voyage ; the reading an