Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-06-15

i Merciful power, Ia The, very momer
when ihs strength aud spirit Of man ha
Jeff him. and the cod shndder Of deaf
bad come on. be ieI lLal The tide rose q
higher. His eyes opened. closed. and
IearfuliIangh troubled The waters! The
eddied 10 bis throat. and he bubbles float
/ ed around bis Ips-butlhey rose no high
4 er--tiNt be kneW-heain and again BIZ
81 bosom heayed with deep sob, aud b,
;ddreW ia bis breath, md gave il forth il
lagony. A minute had passed since tbl
salt sea touched his lips; this was impos
Isible ifthe tide still li5wed-he could real
Ison so much. He cpsned bis eyes, AMI
laintly murmured "a 10 God be nier
citnl.s The Gov d BE ocean had indeed
ceased /: there he mood mo,ionless: 5ui
praying and weeping. thinking OF bis be
loved home, and hoping his place there
might not BE. forever vacant. The waters
~ short time subsidized. and be was Goa.
bled to stretch his chilled limbs, and then
to warm them by exercise. Soon the
rock was LEFT dry Is before, and the FISH,
ermsn knelt down upon that desolale spot
amongTthe billows-hid his face il his
hands, and praised and blessed bis Crea.
icr-his Preserver. F
Oh! il was-the well known bark Of bis
faithful dog he had heard above the
waves; in another moment the creature
was licking bic pale cheek. He was
saved-he was saved; for his own boat
had touched the shore, and his own bow
was 10 has armsi He had been drilled 10
the land, and bad easily found those who
had rowed hard for The chance Of saving
his fathers life.
Now homeward. homewardl' he ex
claimed!
Homewsrd. homeward T. echoed the
child, aud Neptune jumped and barked at
the welcome sound.
The 6shermsn's family was still sup.
plicatIng Providence upon the hillock that
overlooked the deep, when the old man
started IRON bis knees. and exclaimed.
we are heatdl there is / speck upon the
distant waters
Where. wherel' was echoed by the
group, and he pointed out what he bad
hoped to be The absent boat. They ca.
gekly strained theireyes, but saw nothing,
ia few moments, however, all perceived
a sail stili il was impossible TO tell the
direction in which ils course lay.
Then was the agony Of suspense; IL
continued. however, but for q short time !;
boat was evidently advancing towards
the shore in few minutes. they could
clearly perceive man at The bow, wav
ing bis hat above his head. and soon after
the well known bark Of Neptune was
borne TO them by the breeze. The FAM.
ly>lushed toithe extremity Of the rude
pier. and the loud hpzza Of The fisherman
was answered BY the welcome, welcome,
Of his father, and the almost inariiculate
thank God>of his wife.
Md now was al! JOY and happiness in
the cottage, where There lad been 50
much wreichedness the fisherman, bis
boy, and bis dog. were safe from the Pc
rils Of the great deep but he would re-
turn no answer TO questions. as 10 what
had detained him so long beyond the vi
sual period Of his return. Wait, mvf
wife. said be, until we have dressed and
refreshed ourselves, and you shalkkuow
al, but before we do either, let US bless
God for bis mercy for out Of great danger
hath be preserved me-
Never was there more sincere or more
earnest prayer offered up TO The Giver Of
all goodness. than assembled from that
humble dwelling. And when ibe fisher
man had told bis tale. how fervently did
they all repeat the words that had given
them so much consolation in the morning:
fearless let him be whose trust is in
his God r.