Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-06-15
MfatfIIauEoua.
From the Phiiadsiphia Saturday H,ssrn.. ).
THE HER MAN.
A. rnRlLLINe INeIpENT.


1t wasas calm an evening as ever came
from Heaven. 1.-The sky and the earth
were as Tranquil a. il no storm from the
one had ever disturbed The repose Of the
other; and even the ocean-ihat preal
highway Of The world-lay as gentle as Il
its bosom had never betrsyed,-as if NO
traveller bad ever sunk to death ia its EN-
brace. The sun bad gone down.. aud tie
pensive twilight would have reigned over
nature, but for. the moon which rose 10
full orbed beauty. the queen of7an illimit-
able world, to smile uponlihe goodly things
OF ours, and 10 give radiance and a Rlo-
ry 10 ell she shone upon. II was an ho1r
aud scene that led The soutsto the con J..
temptation of Him who never ceases to
watch over the works be has made, and
whose protecting care displays itself alike
upon The solid land and the trackless
wastes Of the deceiiful sea.
On the western coastlof The county Of
Devon, which has been termed, and, il
may be added. justly, lbe garden Of Fog
landj upon sech an evening a group had
assembled around one Of the Fisherm an s
cottages. The habitalion was builtFin the
style Of olden time, when comfort was The
principal object Of the protector. "A; Ell
Their side OF the door we're scattered the
lines and nets and baskets that betokened
the calling oflhe owner and the fisher
man was taking his farewell for the night,
of his happy, loving family, who were
bidding him God speed on bis voysge
A tine old man was leaning bis arms on
ihe railing. and talking TO an interesting
girl whose bsnd'lay upon the shoulder Of
q younger sister. The stout fisherman.
dressed ia bis rough jerkin, and large
boots that reached far above the knees,
was in' the act Of kissing little cherub,
who seemed bali terrified At being eleva.
ted 90 high IS bis fathers lips {; while the
wife and mother, with her infant nursing.
on her lap. was looking anxiously upon
her husband as she breathed the parting
blessing, and she prayed for bis safe re-
turn. A little boy, the miniature of bis
father in copntensnce and dress, bearing
q huge boat cloak across his shoulders,
aud the lantern that was 10 give light when.
the moon departed, completed the group
IL we except a noble Newfoundland dog,
some steps 10 advance Of the party watch
ing Tor the nod 10 com -,>--l l.sss sIFercn 70
: kauu OF pier where the fisherman and
his boy were 10 embark. Good luck,
good luck i exclaimed the old man, good
luck and safe home again, John; We want
no more bot Gods blessing, and that We
may have for asking !; but ye may as well
take mine TOO. God bless ye, and good
bye to ye.
The blessing was heartily echoed BY
his kind partner and his children, and
whislling IS be went. with his boat hook
on his shoulder. bis dog Neptune before.
and his boy following. be trudged along
10 the beach.
! With the earliest dawn Of morning the
6shsrmans family were as.ir !; ihe elder
girl was knsily arranging their Little par.
lor. whilsilhe younger was preparing The
breakfast table, and the mother spreading
before the ere the clothes Of her. husband
and her boy. An hour passed and she
grew somewhat uneasy that be had re-
NAMED abroad beyond the usual period Of
bis return. Another hous had elapsed,
when she said to her father. Father, 20
out to the hillock. and tfy II you can see
his sail upon the water; be seldom stays
out 50 long when the sea is calm and The
weather lsir /; my little boy was not quite
well last qight. aud this alone should have
fastened him home
TIE OLD man vent forth. and one BIZ
ono his grand children followed bin. IN
Ill The mother was Ieft alone. rocking the
cradle Of her unconscious babe. After
lbs lapss Of another hour. her daughter
entered Filth news that . neighbor had
spoken u her father 10 The night and that
be woul9 certainly Be soon home.
Cod grant III said she. and she spoke
ia tone or deep anxisiy-'he never was
away soIong but once and that was When
be savedths crew Of The ship Mary and
lhenA.hs rbirl Of .hs sinking vessel well
nigh made his grave.
Again she stirred The are, again tfreng-
ed TIE sEothss before Il, and poarsd s1ne