Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-08-26
LVENNA. OHIO, WED EsDA '. AUeUsT 2s SAG


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erl father!n exclaimed the lad, sswhat shall /
do?o The boat was at this moment so |
distant that his distracted parent could I
scarcely hear the words, but he called out /
to him as loud as he could to- trust in God,
the father ofthe fatherless. He thetstoodsE
resigned totbe fatesWhich awaited hilaanflt
fatal rock. He then offered up brief
prayer to the throne of Mercy, when in an
instant q light broke upon his mind. "Great
God!' he exclaimed, 81 may yet be saved."'
With the energy of hope battling against
despair, he collected all the stones around
him, and heaped them rapidly upon high
ledge of rocks--it was indeed wonderful
how he could have gathered so many in so
short time, but the Almighty gave him
strength, and he was laboring not for life
alone, but for beings still dearer to him.
The tide came on, on, and soon obliged him
to quit his work. He then mounted the
pile he had heaped, planted the boat hook
firmly in one of the creyices of the cliff,
and prepared to struggle for existence; but
his heart failed him, when he. considered
how slight was the possibility that the wat
ers would not rise above his head. Still he
determined to do all he could to preserve
life. The waves were not rough, and the
boat hook supported him.
The awful moment rapidly approached
the waters reached his knees, but he
stood firmly and prayed that he might be
preserved. On, on; on it came, and his
shoulders were covered; hope died within
him, and he thought of himself no longer,
but those who were dear to him-his wife,
his children, and his father--it was for
blessings on them that he had implored
Heaven. Still on, on, on, it came, and he
was forced to raise his head to keep as long
as possible from death; his reason was al
most gone, his breath grew feeble, his
limbs chilled; he painted, and his prayer
became gurgling murmurs. The blood
rushed to his head--his eye balls glared as
ifthey would start from their sockets. He
closed them with an effort and Thought for
the last time on the home that would soon
be so wretched! Horrible images were be-
fore him-each swell of the waves seemed
as though the fends were forcing him
downward, and the cry of the sea bird was
like their yells over their victim. He was
gasping, choking, for he had no strength to
keep his head above the. waves; every mo-
ment it was splashing upon him, and each
convulsive start that followed only aroused
him to consciousness, if consciousness it
could be called, that the next plunge would
be his last
Merciful powers! at the very moment
when the strength and spirit Of man had
left him, and the cold shudder Of death had
come on,he felt that the tide rose no higher.
His eyes opened, closed, and fearful
laugh troubled the waters. They eddied ir
J his throat, and the bubbles f1oated around his
, lips but they rose no higher-that he knew
again and again his bosom heaved with 6
deep sob, and he drew in his breath and
!: gave it forth in agony. A minute hat
passed since the salt sea had touched hi
| lips; this was impossible if the tide still flow
ed-he could reason so much. He opened
his eyes and family nnurmered forth, "Of
God! be merciful!'' The flow of the ocear
, had indeed ceased; there he stood motionless
l but praying and weeping thinking Of his
! beloved home, and hoping that his place
there might not be forever vacant. Til,
: waters in short time subsided, and he wa
It enabled to stretch his chilled limbs, ant
!, then warm them by exercise. Soon tn,
/, rock was left dry as before, and the fisher
n man knelt down upon that desolate spo
! among the billows-his face in his hands
and blessed his Creator, his Preserver!
Oh, it was we'll known bark of hi
$ faithful dog that he had heard above tn
3 waves, in another moment the creatur
8 was licking his pale cheek. He was saved
1 he was saved! for his own boat had touche
: the shore, and his own boy was in his arms
Q --he had been drifted to the land, and ha
easily found those who had rowed hard 70
9 the chance ofsaying his fathers life.
d "Now homeward, homeward!'' he OK
q claimed, aHomeward, homeward!" echoe
the child. and Neptune jumped and barke
0 at the welcome sound.
g The fsherman's family was still suppl
. eating providence upon the hillock tho
8 overlooked the deep; when the old ma
i started. from his knees and exclaimed, ew
n are heard! there is q speclk upon the dis
l. tant waters.'' ses
u "Where, where9n was echoed by tn
Is group and he pointed out what he hoped t
i be the absent boat They eagerly straine
10 their eyes but could see nothing; in fev
ID moments, however, oil perceived a sail;
d was impossible totellthe direction in whic
II its course lay.
Then was the agony Of suspense; it cor
5 tinued, however, but for. short time!
'eE boat was evidently advancing towards tn
,el shore, in few minutes they could clearl
I. perceive man at the bow, waving his hi
5, above his head, and soon after the we
Il known bark Of Neptune was bourn to thel