and their crews consisted of fathers and sons belonging to the
place, so that, both by reason of interest and affection, a more
than ordinary concern was felt for them; for the sea was so rough,
that no boat could live in it to go near them, and we had our fears
that the men on board would be very ill off. Nothing, however,
occurred but this natural anxiety, till the Saturday, which was
Yule. In the morning the weather was blasty and sleety, waxing more
and more tempestuous till about mid-day, when the wind checked
suddenly round from the nor-east to the sou-west, and blew a gale as
if the prince of the powers of the air was doing his utmost to work
mischief. The rain blattered, the windows clattered, the shop-
shutters flapped, pigs from the lum-heads came rattling down like
thunder-claps, and the skies were dismal both with cloud and carry.
Yet, for all that, there was in the streets a stir and a busy
visitation between neighbours, and every one went to their high
windows, to look at the five poor barks that were warsling against
the strong arm of the elements of the storm and the ocean.

Still the lift gloomed, and the wind roared, and it was as doleful a
sight as ever was seen in any town afflicted with calamity, to see
the sailors' wives, with their red cloaks about their heads,
followed by their hirpling and disconsolate bairns, going one after
another to the kirkyard, to look at the vessels where their helpless
breadwinners were battling with the tempest. My heart was really
sorrowful, and full of a sore anxiety to think of what might happen
to the town, whereof so many were in peril, and to whom no human
magistracy could extend the arm of protection. Seeing no abatement
of the wrath of heaven, that howled and roared around us, I put on
my big-coat, and taking my staff in my hand, having tied down my hat
with a silk handkerchief, towards gloaming I walked likewise to the