But, in such a situation, when the breezing up of the first gale may be his last,--and no one can tell how long the gleam of fine weather will continue,--every man must regard his past life, if he thinks at all, as at the best but a feverish dream, and endeavour to prepare for the inevitable issue of his anxiety and dread with the calmness and self-possession of a reasonable and accountable being; keeping a bright look-out for the life-boat of our blessed Religion, which all, sooner or later, will be convinced affords the only sure means of escape, even although it be seen glancing at first but as the seamew's wing in the distance, amidst the obscurity of the horizon and dimness of the spray and mist; yet, if anxiously hailed, and earnestly watched, it will infallibly sheer alongside at last, when the fearful cry of "She parts, she parts!" gushes high above the turmoil of troubled thoughts within, and save all who have put their trust in it. "And why this gloomy ending to a merry tale?" Grudge it not, shipmate; but bear with me a brief moment still. We begun in jest--we have ended in earnest--fit type of human life. We have had a long cruise and many a good laugh together, and now we find leave-taking is not joyous. But call it not a gloomy ending: solemn it may be, and indeed has unwittingly become; but surely not unfitting, on that account, the close of a work that has been the chief solace of a long illness, and which, whenever it beguiles the tedium of a sick-couch to a suffering brother, shall, in attaining that end, have fully accomplished the desire of him who now bids all hands, kindly and respectfully, FAREWELL. END OF VOLUME TWO. EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND CO., PAUL'S WORK. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Cruise of the Midge (Vol. II of 2), by Michael Scott