Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/327

 ABOUT ALL KINDS OF SHIPS

ning, and sing sea-songs till after midnight, in that hot, silent, motionless calm. They had no sense of humor, and they always sang &quot; Homeward Bound,&quot; without reflecting that that was practically ridiculous, since they were standing still and not proceeding in any direction at all; and they often followed that song with &quot;Are we almost there, are we almost there? said the dying girl as she drew near home.&quot;

It was a very pleasant company of young people, and I wonder where they are now. Gone ; oh, none knows whither ; and the bloom and grace and beauty of their youth, where is that? Among them was a liar; all tried to reform him, but none could do it. And so, gradually, he was left to himself; none of us would associate with him. Many a time since I have seen in fancy that forsaken figure, leaning forlorn against the taffrail, and have reflected that perhaps if we had tried harder, and been more patient, we might have won him from his fault and persuaded him to relinquish it. But it is hard to tell; with him the vice was extreme, and was probably incurable. I like to think and, indeed, I do think that I did the best that in me lay to lead him to higher and better ways.

There was a singular circumstance. The ship lay becalmed that entire fortnight in exactly the same spot. Then a handsome breeze came fanning over the sea, and we spread our white wings for flight. But the vessel did not budge. The sails bellied out, the gale strained at the ropes, but the vessel moved not a hair s-breadth from her place. The captain was surprised. It was some hours before we found

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