The Power of Faith | Page 4

cared although it had lasted twelve months. I had left all that was
dear to me behind, except one dear friend, that one was constantly with
me, and although the rest of the company in the ship was very
agreeable, yet I was the great object of his attention, and his invention
was ever on the stretch to find amusement for me. It is not possible for
me to say with what indulgent tenderness I was treated; but though I

love my husband even to extravagance, yet my dear friends whom I left
behind have a large share of my heart. They dwell on my mind in the
daytime; and at night, when sleep lays the body aside and leaves the
soul at liberty, she on the wings of imagination makes one skip over
whole seas, and is immediately with those dear friends whose absence
she so much lamented during the day, and in an imaginary body as
truly enjoys you for the time as if really present with you.
"The gentlemen on board soon found reason to be thankful for the
preservation of life, and got something very different to think of than
fret at the contrary winds. A leak sprung in the ship, which alarmed
them all so much that a consultation was held among them whether if
any ship came near they should hail it and go on board wherever she
was bound. I was perfectly unconcerned about the whole matter, not
being aware of the danger, which was kept secret from me till we came
on shore. I saw the men constantly pumping, but thought it was what
they were obliged to do in every ship. After coming to land, on
examining the ship, they found the leak to be so large that one might
put his five fingers into it; indeed, it seemed next to a miracle that she
kept above water; but every day of our lives may convince us what
dependent creatures we are. While God's merciful providence protects
us we are safe, though in the midst of apparent danger; should he
withdraw that protection but for a moment, inevitable evils surround us,
even when we think ourselves in perfect safety.
"A proof of this we had in a most distressing event, which took place
about six weeks after we left Greenock. The wind was in our favor, the
day was fine, and we were all amusing ourselves on deck in various
ways, when Captain Kerr, who was standing close by us, stumbling
backwards, fell overboard. He got above water before the ship passed
him, and called to throw him a rope, but alas, no rope was at hand, and
before one was got the ship was out of his reach. Immediately they
threw over a large hen-coop, but, poor man, he could not swim, so he
soon disappeared. The boats were put out with great expedition, and in
less than a quarter of an hour he was found. You may believe no means
were left unemployed to restore animation; but alas, the spirit had taken
its final leave; it was no longer an inhabitant of earth, not the least signs

of life appeared. The day after, being Sunday, his body was committed
to the deep, from whence it had been rescued the day before. Dr.
Graham read in public the church of England burial service. Every one
on board seemed much affected; I cannot tell you how much I was.
"About eight days after, we got to the Banks of Newfoundland; while
there the fog was so dense we could not see forty yards in any direction,
and the cold was excessive, notwithstanding the season of the year.
There were a great many islands of ice floating on the water; I saw
three within twenty yards of us, much larger than the ship. The captain
said if the ship ran against any one of them, she would be dashed to
pieces. And here, again, my former observation holds good, for sure it
could not be the art of man, either in the dark night or in the dense fog,
which could protect the ship flying before the wind, through dangers so
thick on every side of us. For several days and nights we saw neither
sun nor stars, which distressed the captain much, for he knew not where
we were, and apprehending we were near land, was afraid of running
upon some rock; so we were obliged to cruise about till the atmosphere
cleared.
"The sail up the river St. Lawrence is extremely pleasant. You know
how fond I have ever been of wood and water. This country, in this
respect, is quite to my taste, and could I only get half a dozen of those
friends I could name settled down on either