The Yazoo City Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-02-17
MIS- CELLANEOUS.
THE FISHERMAN.
BY s. c. HALL.

BY s. C. HALL.
IT was as calm an evening as ever came
from heaven--the sky and the earth we're as
tranquil, as if no storm from the one had
ever disturbed the repose of the other; and
even the Ocean--that great highway Of the
wOrld-lay as gentle as if its bosom had ne
YER betrayed-as if no traveller had ever
sunk to death in its embrace. The sun had
gone down, and the pensive twilight would
have reigned over nature, but for the neon,
which rose in her full-orbed beauty, the
queen Ofan illimitable world, to smile upon
the gOOdly things of ours, and to give a ra-
dance and glory TO all she shOne upon. 1t
was an hour and scene that led the soul to
the contemplation OF Him who never ceases
to watch over the works he has made, and
whose protecting care displays itself alike
upon the solid land and the trackless wastes
of the deceitful sea.
On the western coast Of the county Of
Devon, which has been termed, and il may
be added, justly, "the garden Of England"
upon such an evening, group had assem-
bled around enc Of the fsherman's cottages.
The habitation was built in the true style Of
the olden time, when comfort was the prin-
ciple object of the protector. At either side
of the door were scattered the lines and nets
J and baskets that betokened the calling of the
owner, and the fisherman was taking his
r farewell for the night, of his happy, loving
family, who were bidding him God speed
!, on his voyage. A fine old man was leaning
! his arm on the railing, and talking to an in
teresting girl whose hand lay upon the
shoulder of younger sister. The stout
u fisherman, dressed in his rough jerkin, and
d large boots that reached far above the knees
q was in the act Of kissing little cherub, who
h seemed half terrified at being elevated Sc
er high as the fathers lips; while the wife anC
81 mother, with her infant nursing on her lap
10 was looking cautiously upon IISr husband =
Ii she breathed the parting blessing, and th'
r prayer for his safe return. A LITTLE boy, thu
n miniature Of his father in countenance ant
n in dress, bearing huge bOat-cloak across hi
IN shoulders, and the lanthorn that was to Civ
lh light when the moon departed, complete
y, the group-if we except noble NewfounJ
n land dog, some steps in advance of the pa
O. ty, watching for the nod to command hi
~ march TO a kind of pier where the isherma
and his boy we're to embark.
n "GOod luck, good luck!" exclaimed h
ed old man, ''good luck, and safe home agai
ne John; ys want no more but Gods blessing
and that ye may have for asking; but ye ms
%, as we'll take mine too-GOd bless We, al
%, good bye TO ye."
in The blessing was heartily echoed by /
IS kind partner and his children, and whistlil
9 as he went, with his boat-huok on his shout
$. or, his dog Neptune before, and his boy f
ain lowing, he trudged along TO the beach.
,er- With the earliest dawn Of morning t
4 fisherman's family were astir; the elder g
was busily arranging their little Paror, VIII
u.s., the younger was preparing the breakfast
an BILE, and the mother spreading before the
pc, the clothes of her husband and her boy.
xes hour passed, and she grew somewhat l
ars. easy that he remained abroad beyond
ton usual period of his return. Another he
&, had elapsed, when she said to her faith
ms. ''Father, 90 out TO the hillock and try if J
YES can see bis sal! upon the water; he seld
ars stays out so long when the sea is calm q
the weather fair; my little boy TOO was
eeH quite we'll last night, and this alone sho
SILy' have fastened him home"
O The old man went forth, and one BY
soiu his grandchildren followed him, until
ms mother was left alone, rocking the cradle
her unconscious babe. After the lapse
lu q another hour, her daughter entered '
, E.' news that a neighbor had spoken to her
ne ~: Their in the night, and that he would cert
. ly be soon home.
Tier "God grant it," said she, and she 50
in tone Of deep anxiety-"He never
ar,ar away so long but once, and that was whel
,ess, saved the crew Of the ship Mary: and
NTH. the whirl of the sinking vessel had we'll
lrter. made his grave"
= Of Again she stirred the fire, again arran
% D the clothes before it, and poured some
and water into the tea-cups. Still the breaI
dolls remained untouched.
aeaad The sun was now soaring 10 his meri
baIf height, when once more the family as.
nsb;n bIed in their humble dwelling; the ORC
l.IO1 the whole was yet wanting. They sat d
,i.;n to a cheerless meal, the seats at either
d cts Of the wife remaining vacant. The old
eron was the only individual who appeared 4
& Cor ticpate no evil; but he hastily finishe,
ssssd breakfast and wen; forth.
The noon was rapidly passing, anc
C. sun had already given tokens of the glo
-l4t his departure, when the ffsherman's