THE VOYAGE OF LIFE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2511, 30 April 1902, Page 63

THE VOYAGE OF LIFE.

(By Isobel M. D. Mahoxet.)

God throws every moment into the Sea, of Life a handful of tiny living organisms, enca&ed each in a little shell of its own. The Sea of Life tosses hither and thither, but underneath there [-, a strong undertow, unseen, unfelt, setting towards the bar behind which is peace and Everything is drawn with this current, unconsciously, but inevitably. An infinitesimal portion of these little ves-sels float serenely along on a smooth summer sea. and pass tranquilly into the calm water beyond. Some sail through storms, buf-ft-ted by every wind, tearing their sides on dark unseen rocks, and are thrown at last sheer over the bar in a mass of spray and spume. Some are seized at the beginning of their voyage by a, strong tide underneath the .surface, hurried along, and plunged into the calm water beyond, almost before their fellow voyagers have well begun their journey. Then others be^in their journey , in fine weatLer ; but suddenly, without ] any warning, a huge breaker arises, and tosses them with malevolent force right over the bar, before their voyage ought rightly to have been completed. Others again stdit in calm weather ; they have little nu>-haps, few real dangers — a shoal Here, a lock there, an adverse wind J which soou veers round, and they sail safely and quietly into port after a* long, placid, uneventful voyage. There are those who are alternately riding on the breast of a crested wave, or \