Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-06-15
bot water into the Tea cups. Still ths
breakfast rem aimed untouched.

4 -.1l -
breakfast rem aimed untouched.
/ The sun was now soaring 10 bis mefi
dian height. when once more The fsmil,
assembled in their humble dwelling. ii,
prop ofElhe whole was yet wanting. The,
sat down 10 cherries meal, the seats /
either side OF the wife remained vacant
The old man was tie only individual VIII
appeared 70 anticipate no evil: but n
hastily 6nished bis breakfast and went forth
I The noon was rapidly passing. aud ~
sun had slready given tokens OF The glory
q his departure. when the fisherman
vile having luHed her infant 10 SLEEP.
hweat 70 the bill that commanded AZ *.
iensiye view Of The wide spread oces & =
All the little household SOD sssa.hblsd
On the spot. but no boat was seea upon
The understanding that could give hope
except the aspect Of The waves which
looked top placid 10 be dangerous.
Their deep dread was no longer 10 be
concealed and while the old man paced
70 and fro. looking earnestly at brief In
iervals over the lenely sea, the mother
and daughter were spbbing sudibiy.
Fearless let him Be whose trust Is 10
bis God I exclaimed the father. The sen.
tence was uttered Involuntarily. but il bad
ifs effect
'Ay. ay.' said The mother he always
trusted in bis God. and God will not fer
sake him now
DO you remember. (Jsne, continued
the old man. how often Providence was
with me- amid fb6 elnrn and iba rsracL
when help from man was Ear off and
would have been useless if nesr:' And
they cbeered and encouraged one another
TO hopes the best. but TO submit to The
decree Of Heaven, whether il came as the
gentle dew to nourish, or as the heavy
rain TO Cypress. From that hillock which
overlooked the ocean, ascended the min
gled prayers that God would not leavs
them desolaie. 9Th
The fsherman-the object of their
hopes and fears-bad been very success
fol during the night, when at day break
as be " as preparing TO return home, he
remembered bis promise TO bring with him
some seaweed TO msnuretthe potatoe plot
behind bis cottage. He was then close
TO rocks. which were only discernable 1t
low water he pulled for them, jumped
on shore, fastened the paicter oflbis boat
to jutting part Of cliff, and took bis
boat hook with him. iI
He collected Sufficient quantity of TIE
weed but in bis eagerness to obtain il had
wandered from the landing place. wbel
he heard bis boy loudly hallooing and "a
claiming that the painter was loose. Hb
rushed instantly towards the boat, which
was then several yards off; the boy was
vainIy ehdeavoring 10 use both the osF1
and Neptune the faithful dog. was run
ming backward. and bowling fearfullJ
as u Consoles q his masters danger. III
one moment about TO plunge Infu III.
waves and join him, and the next licking
the face and hands Of the child, as il he
foresaw that for him ais protection would
be most needed. f4l
The fisherman perceived at once The
desperate nature Of his situation, the tide
he knew was coming 10 rapidly, and Bis
hope of escape was at an end, when be
perceived that bis boy. 10 his effort to use
the oars, bad le; one Of them fall over
board. Father father exclaimed The
poor lad, what shall do9'-the boat was
atthis time so far distant that his distract.
ed parent could scarcely hear he words
but he called out 10 him as loud IS be
could to trust 10 God. the fatberoi the IA
therlsss. He then stood resigned TO The
fate which 1waited him, and watched the
drifting boat in peril from The fatal rocks.
He bad offered upa brief prayer to the
throne Of mercy, when in an instant, q
light broke upon bis mind. Great Godg'
be exclaimed, i NAV yet be saved. ~
With the energy of.hope battling with de-
SPAR, be collected al the stones around
him. and hesped them rapidly upon The
highest ledge Of rocks---it was indeed
wonderful how he could have gathered 40
many in so short time. but the Almighty
gave strength 10 his arm, aud he was Ila-
boring not for LIZ -s~selys uut Tor beings
sun dearer to him. The tide came Cd =
soon obliged him 10 quliihis
work. He then mounted the pile be had
heaped. planted bis boat hook firmly 10
one Of The creyices Of the cliff, and pre-.
pared TO struggle for existence: but bis
heart failed him, when be considered How |
slight was the possibility that the waters !
would not rise above his head. Still, be |
TO do all be could TO preserve |
life. Theswayes we're not rough, audlthe |
boat hook supported him.
The awful moment rapidly approached. |
the water bad reached his knees; but be |
stood firmly and prayed that be nikht be
preserved. On. on. on, il came. slowly |
and gently, bit more fssrfulIy than III i |
had ragged sround it's destined prey iooD
L reached bis waist and be prayed that il |
might 90 no higher. On. on. on. Il came,
md bis shoulders were covered hope |
died within him. aud be thought Of him
self no longer. but Of those who were 50
dear to him-his wife, bis children. and
bis fathef,--it was for blessings on then.
that be impIored Heaven. Still. ons on.
%. II came. and be was forced torsise bis
head 10 keep as long as possible from
death his reason was almost gone. bis
breath grew feeble, bis limbs chilled; be |
painted. and bis prayer became almost
rutgling murmurs. The blood rushed 10 |
bis head bis eye balls glarsd as ifthey
would start from their sockets. He dlosed
Them with an effort. and thought for The
last time on the home that would soon Be
wEeikhed Horrible images were before
him-each swell OF the waves eeemed as
If The tends were forcing bin downward.
and the cry Of the seashird was like their