May.] 



DOMESTIC AFFLICTION. 



139 



from adhering to it, as in the present instance. A paroxysm of tears 

 would have restored me to my usual calmness ; but then I dreaded 

 the blush that must follow, when the cheek was dry. 



As soon as my throat became sufficiently relieved, and I dared to 

 trust my voice, I thanked my friends for their attention, and assured 

 them that I did not apprehend a relapse. I then sank back in my 

 chair, and breathed a silent ejaculation to an ear that is never closed 

 to the aspirations of sorrow and humility : " Thy will, 0 Lord, be done. 

 Pardon a worm of the dust for presuming to murmur at thy righteous 

 judgments. O graciously sanctify this affliction to my soul, that it 

 may be good for me to have been afflicted. Give me strength to en- 

 dure the struggle with manly fortitude, and even with gratitude. Shall 

 not the Judge of all the earth do right ! Have mercy upon me, for I 

 am weak — thou knowest that we are but dust. They are not dead — 

 they live in heaven ; and O grant me grace still to endure the trials 

 and troubles of this transitory life : — I ought not to wish them back to 

 share in such troubles, but manfully to wrestle alone. Misfortunes, 

 dangers, hardships, and disappointments have, for some gracious pur- 

 pose of thy divine providence, attended me from infancy to the present 

 hour. Teach me to be resigned — grant me grace to be thankful." 



Though I am ashamed to shed tears, I am not ashamed to publish 

 to the world that the above humble ejaculation, rather thought than 

 whispered, instantly restored my mind to calmness and serenity. 

 Should any doubt it, I advise them to try the experiment in sincerity ; 

 they will then doubt it no more. 



The unaffected sympathy of my noble-hearted tars also afforded 

 me much consolation ; I mean such as returned with me to the United 

 States, three of whom are now residing in the city of New-York, viz. 

 Messrs. Charles Cox, William Cox, and John Simmons — as worthy, 

 manly, and brave men as ever sailed under the flag of any nation. 

 The same remark will apply, with equal justice, to two young gentle- 

 men, named Pratt and Murray, of Connecticut. As soon as they heard 

 of my affliction, they came to administer consolation, and bind up the 

 wounds of my heart. They were not Job's comforters. 



The Wasp's cargo of seal-skins, brought home in the Endeavour, 

 consisting of about seven thousand, was soon landed in the best order ; 

 and in a few days afterward two of the owners, Messrs. Rogers and 

 M'Intyre, who came on from New- York for the purpose, caused the 

 whole to be sold at public sale, the proceeds of which gave them the 

 most entire satisfaction. 



These gentlemen then requested me to accompany them to New- 

 York, and select any vessel which I considered suitable for another 

 voyage of two years or upwards to the Pacific Ocean, which they 

 would immediately purchase and commit to my charge. I readily ac- 

 ceded to the proposal, for home had now few charms for me, since 

 the tenderest ties of my heart had been severed by the king of terrors. 

 One sacred duty, however, was first to be fulfilled. This was to visit 

 my aged father, who had also drunk of the cup of affliction to its very 

 dregs. Accordingly, as soon as my business was all settled in Salem, 

 I lost no time in proceeding to Stonington. 



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