It has, indeed, pleased the almighty Ruler of the universe,
as yet, to keep my feeble and shattered bark afloat on the sea
of life, but it is still, as it were, in the middle of the stream,
and far distant from any convenient landing place,— -still ex-
posed to itV^torms and tempests, its eddies and whirls, and



92 IjATTER STRUeOLES

without the near prospect of Bome friendly Island, to welcome
my approach,— -som^ desired haven, to shelter me, from the
discomforts and perils of the winteb of age.
