Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-06-28

terrified at being elevated SO high as his iath-
er's legs; while the wife and mother, with
her infant nursing on her lap, was looking
anxiousy upon her husband, as she breathed
the parting blessing, and prayed for his safe
return. A little boy, the miniature OF his
father in countenance and dress, bearing
huge boat cloak across his shoulders, and the
lantern to give light when the moon depart
ed, completed the group-lt we except a
noble Newfoundland dog, some steps in adj
vance of the party, watching for the NOD to
command his march to kind of pier, where
the fishermen and his boy were to embark.
Good luck, good luck = exclaimed the old
man, good luck and safe home again, John
We want no more but Gods blessing, and
that We may have for asking; but ye may as
well take nine too. God bless we, and good
bye to ye.'
The blessing was heartily echoed by his
kind partner and his children, and whlstllng
as he went, with his boat hook on his Shout
der, his dog Neplure before, and his boy fol-
lowing, trudged along TO the beach.
With the earliest dawn of morning, the
fishcrmans family were astir; the elder girl
was busily engaged arranging their little par
lor while the younger was preparing the
breakfast table and the mother spreading
before the fire the clothes of hel husband
and her boy. An hour passed, and she grew
somewhat uneasy that he remained abroad
beyond the usual period Of his return. An
other hour had elapsed. when she said to her
father, Father, 90 out to the hllock, and
try if YOU can see his sail upon the water;
he seldom stays out so long when the wealth
err was fair and the sea calm; my little boy
was not qnile well last night and this alone
should have FASTENED him home
The old man went forth and one by one
his grandchildren followed HIM, until the
mother was left alone, rocking the cradle OF
her unconcous babe. After the lapse OF
another hour, her daughter entered with news
that ii neighbor had spoken to her father IN
the nilht, and that he would certainly be
soon home.
God grant it! said she, and she spoke IN
tone of deep anXiety-'he never was away
50 long but once, and that was when he
saved the crew of the ship Mary; and then
the whir of the sinking vessel well nigh made
his grave
Again she stirred the fire, again arranged
the clothes before it, and poured some hot
water into the tea cups. Sui the breakfast
remained untouched.
The sun was now soaring to his meridian
height and when once more the family as
somblcd in their humble dwelling. the prop
of the whole was yet wanting. They sat
down TO cherries meal, the seats at either
side of the wife remaining vacant. The old
man was the only individual who appeared
to anticipate no evil; but he hastily finished
his breakfast and went forth.
The morn was rapidly passing, and the
sun had already given tokens OF the glory OF
his departure, when the fSherman's wife,
having lulled her infant to sleep went to the
hill that commanded an extensive view OF
the wide spread ocean. All the little house,
hold soon assembled on the spot, but no
boat was seen upon the wa'ers-nolhlng
that could give hope except the aspect of
the waves, which looked too placid to be
dangerous.
Their deep dread was no longer 10 be
concealed and while the old man paced to
and fro, looking earnestly at brief intervals
over the lonely sea, the mother und daugh-
ter were sobbng audibly.
Fearless let him be whose trust is in his
God = exclaimed the father. The sentence
was uttered inv oluntarily but it had lis ef-
feet.
CAV, av,' said the mother, he always
trusted in his God, and God will no, lorsake
him now
DO you remember, jane continued the
old man, how often Providence was with
me, amid the storm and the wreck, wher
help from man was far off, and would have
been useless if near :! And they chccrcC
and encouraged one another to hope for the
besl-to submit to the decree of heaven
whether it came as the gentle dew to nour'
ish, or as the heavy rain to Cypress. From
that hi'lock which overlooked the ocean, as.
ccndcd the mingled prayers that God would
not leave them desola,e.
The lisherman-the object of their hone
and iears-had been very successful durins
the night, and when at day break, as he wa
preparing TO return home, he remembers,
his promise to bring with him some sea-wee,
e TO manure the potato plat behind his cottage
IS He was then close to the rocks, which wer
n only discernab!e at low water; and pulle,
n for them, jumped on shore, fastened tn
d painter of his boat to a jutting part of tn
;. cliff, and took his boat hook with him.
10 He collected sufficient quantity of tn
e weed, but in his eagerness to obtain it, ha
e wandered from the landing place, when h
n heard his boy loudly hal0oing and exclaim
n ing that the painter was loose. He rushe
y instantly towards the boat which was the
several yards off; the boy wss vainly en-
lr deavor,ng to use both the oars, and Nep
l. tune, the faithful dog, was running back
III ward and forward and bowling most fearful
Sc ", as if conscious of his masters danger
lie at one moment about to plunge into tn
g. waves and join HIM, and the next ickin
the hands and face of the child as if he sa,
E. that for him his protection would be mo.
De needed.
p. The fisherman perceived at once tn
"a desperate nature of his situation the lid
he he knew was coming in rapidly, and hi
III hone OF PscaDe was at an end. when h