THE BEACH. 
69 
In it; and was placed on a spot where no beach-grass 
grew. The strong winds blew the sand from its foun¬ 
dation, and the weight of the chimney brought it to the 
ground ; so that in January of the present year [1802] 
it was entirely demolished. This event took place about 
six weeks before the Brutus was cast away. If it had 
remained, it is probable that the whole of the unfortunate 
crew of that ship would have been saved, as they gained 
the shore a few rods only from the spot where the hut 
had stood.” 
This “ Charity-house,” as the wrecker called it, this 
Humane house,” as some call it, that is, the one to 
which we first came, had neither window nor sliding 
shutter, nor clapboards, nor paint. As we have said, 
there was a rusty nail put through the staple. However, 
as we wished to get an idea of a Humane house, and we 
hoped that we should never have a better opportunity, 
we put our eyes, by turns, to a knot-hole in the door, 
and, after long looking, without seeing, into the dark, — 
not knowing how many shipwrecked men’s bones we 
might see at last, looking with the eye of faith, knowing 
that, though to him that knocketh it may not always be 
opened, yet to him that looketh long enough through a 
knot-hole the inside shall be visible, — for we had had 
some practice at looking inward, — by steadily keeping 
our other ball covered from the light meanwhile, putting 
the outward world behind us, ocean and land, and the 
beach, — till the pupil became enlarged and collected the 
rays of light that were wandering in that dark (for the 
pupil shall be enlarged by looking; there never was so 
dark a night b^it a faithful and patient eye, however 
small, might at last prevail over it), — after all this, I 
say, things began to take shape to our vision, — if we 
