178 A SALT BREEZE. 



spoiler and yet the renewer ; barren as a rock, yet as 

 fruitful as a field ; old as Time, and young as to-day ; 

 merciless as Fate, and tender as Love ; the fountain 

 of all waters, yet mocking its victims with the most 

 horrible thirst ; smiting like a hammer, and caressing 

 like a lady's palm ; falling upon the shore like a wall 

 of rock, then creeping up the sands as with the rustle 

 of an infant's drapery ; cesspool of the continents, 

 yet " creating a sweet clime by its breath ; " pit of 

 terrors, gulf of despair, caldron of hell, yet health, 

 power, beauty, enchantment, dwell forever with the 

 sea. 



