About midnight
The blue sky was above us and the blue waters beneath , and midnight shed her mysterious shapes and phantom shadows around us , and awoke memories of steamboat disasters and perishing crews sinking into a watery grave . The ill-fated Lexington that was burned upon this very track , came up , haunting the imagination with wild , fantastic dreams . But turning from a land of fancies and of shadows , we raised a trusting eye to the glittering host of silent stars that glistened in all their matchless beauty in heaven 's blue vault above , then listened to the dashing of the briny wave , and felt that God was there , that His eye slumbereth not , and His hand holds not only individual life , but the destinies of nations , and at this solemn midnight hour , when there was no object of His creative power in sight save the spangled arch above and the foaming waters beneath , it was sweet to look up to Him in confidence and trust , feeling that His Almighty arm is omnipotent to save . About midnight the ardor of the race abated . The Atlantic veered off in a different direction toward her destined port , and the Oregon pursued her accustomed way to her usual landing in Stonington . Both boats reached their places of destination in safety , and thus passed the first night of the gallant boat upon the ocean wave . * * * * * It was a cold day when sober autumn had almost accomplished her appointed task , and swept cleanly away the beautiful shrubs and flowers , and rolled the withered leaves before his chilling breath to prepare for the entrance of cold , freezing winter , that already began to send his icy messengers before him , touching the streams with their freezing breath , and scattering snow flakes upon the barren earth .