State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-03-22
From the Religious Souvenir.
THE RESCUE.

THE RESCUE.
1t was one of the brightest mornings in
June, when myself and Il company offcllow
travellers were seated upon small deck
of one of the boats which are continually
playing back and forth upon the Eric Canal.
The air was soft and lragrant,thc forests vo-
cal with the song of early birds and the
earth was arrayed in vcsture of such
chceriulness and beauty, that but for the
dark and saddened visages of some around
us, we might have deemed she Lad never
fallen from her primcval innocence, but was
in every respect good, as When she came
from the hands of her Creator.
My eyes rested upon one of the group
around, with more than ordinary interest.
1t was fair haired blue eyed female, APP
parently about twenty years of age. There
was an expression of anxiety, and | lancied,
almost of Impotence in her looks, as she
turned them from time to time, towards the
slow and monotonOus course Of the boat,
and the listless Indifference OF the Whistlinr
urchin whc was guiding the foremost horse.
Upon her lap sat an iuilnt, whose sportivc
and happy aspect, was in singular contrast
TO her own the one, full of innocence,
security and easc-unconcious ofthe mortal
scene upon which she had so lately entered {:
the other showing that she had come to con
tract with the earth, and it had left its blight
( ing influence upon her early years. a tear
might now and then be detected nin9iing
with her cnrosses Of the lovely child. Per-
! haps it was an orphan, but the lady wore
not the weeds of widowhood. Perhaps it
was the child Of crime shrink from such
a conclusion, for, though pale and dispritcd,
the dark lines of sin wer not traced upon
her young and interesting features.
| drew near and sought to attract her at
tcntion by noticing her infant.
] There is nothing on earth so susceptible
as a mothers heart. lfyou win your way
to it, let your theme be the helpless little
being who looks TO her for protection and
support
The right chord was touched, and it re-
sPonded to my efforts. spoke of the wise
arrangement of Providence for the DISPOSE
ton and the care Of children; that in no
way can their preservation from a'thousand
accidents be accounted for, but by the sup
position that they are under the guardian
ship of angels, aud were we gifted with
greater powers of vision, we should be en-
abled, doubtless, to distinguish myriads of
mlnlstering spirits, lowering around these
little beings, TO protect them in their harm
lessness and innocency. The emphatic love
which Jesus manifested for them while on
earth, was advcrtod to, and saw that her
lace frightened, and her eye beanIed with
confidence and love, as she repeated ''of
such is the kingdom of Heaven"
l gathered from her conversation that
her husband had gone in pursuit ola home,
holding out iairer cncouragementto young
and professional man, than that presented
in the crowded cities and villages on the At
antic border; that while prosecuting his
enquiries, he was taken suddenly and dcs-
pcrately i'll. Her heart could not endure
the load Of suspense and anxiety, and she
had bravcd the loneliness and danger ofthe
journey, burthencd with helpless infant.
that she might know the worst, and be in
season to receive the dying blessing Of the
husband of her youth or haply administer
to his wants amid the trembling Joys of
convalescence. But although sad, She was
not in despair; although solitary, she was
not iorsaken. Her confidence was in the
protection oGllim who careth for the stran-
ger; she felt that He watched over her,
almighty, though invisible.
man of venerable aspect approached as
she talked; and having lured her little one
from her embrace was now amusing him
by walking back and forth upon the upper
deck, and endcavoring TO direct his attention
to the falling water, as it went pouring
through lock, striving to attain its proper
level. "he boat gradually sunk, and the
high stone walls Of the lock rose darkIv
above us. At this moment, in descending
the stairs from the upper deck, the fastening
which secured them gave way, and the old
man and child were precipilated into the
water. Every one sprung to their feet with
feeling of iii Imay and horror, for each
felt that certain and almost instant death
must be the consequence, and busy imagin- /
alton pictured the mangled remains Of the
aged veteran and cherished little one, and
the unutterable desolation of the beravcd
and heart thicken mother | flew to the
side Of the boat, and could scarcely credit
the spectacle which my eyes presented;
the noble old man stood erect in the water, |
holding at arms length the animated form
OF the infant, who full of spouiye smiles. |
unconscious of its danger, and reckless Of
the CONSERVATION which was filling every
heart around, looked like chcrub about TO
take flight to its bright and native heaven
lie stood IN narrow passage between life |
ana death, momcntly expecting that theme
dash OF the ponderous framework OF the |
boat against the trowning wall of the lock |
would crush him in the contact. Blt Inc
quallcd not as the thought passed over him. |
No to the young child, should ngle
muscle relax, or single nerve trcmble. |
Bet the muscle iid not relax, the nerve did |
not faIter. lie stood in his majesty, ms ifI
firm in the confidence of God, 50 long ms Inc
upheld this beautiful emblem of innocence
and purity. The mother gazcd in agony.
until pulsation was stopped and her eve,
balls refused their office.
When she awoke to consciousness. her
darling boy was cIinging around her neck.
now Tor the first time alarmed, because me