Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-01-21

outStretched IN suppllcatlon to the all-De-
holding, almighty God
The mother and daughter in the waves
below, with faces on which the dove of peace
sits visibly brooding, raising their voices in
hymn whose sweet concord seems to chime
in with the harmony of the eternal sea, and
go up together to unite with the glorious an
them forever pealing from sun, moon, and
stars And as the tide rises higher and
higher, louder and louder swells that sweet
strain, as if as the flood swelled fuller and
stronger, it pressed s.rEy moment with III
creasing force upon the still closed portal
of Heaven.
And between these two pictures, awful
but beautiful--the ruthless band of soldiery,
with a dull swarthy light upon their faces,
as if upon them shone the red, horrible fires
of the pit
And above all, as we said, the clear, calm
sky--but no, it is clear and calm no longer
for the tempest is abroad, and its cloudy
legions are gathering together. And a sud-
den wind has arisen-it already blows sharp
ly from the West-oFF THE LAND. The
cheerful light of the sun no longer animates
the scene-it is as if the sins of man had
risen up from the earth, and interposed be-
tween it and the smile of its Maker. Low
down in the West, the black clouds stretch
from horizon to horizon-black, heavy, as
if the day of doom was at hand. And as
they mount rapidly up towards the zenith,
how the winds roar and howl. Now they
come on full wing like athousand furics-the
trees bend and creak-the air is filled with
sand, with dust and dirt from ploughed
fields, with leaves and broken boughs-the
hurricane is upon them.
And still, unmoved through all, that hus-
band and father yet kneels and prays upon
the hill, and the wife and daughter lift up
their song. What is it to him that the ele-
ments rage and struggle, when those most
dear to his heart are at the point of DOOM
he prays earnestly, but he says nothing ex-
cept these two words" Oh God oh !
God P'-thus ever prays he through the roar
ing of the tempest.
And what is it to them, with the water
already up almost to the mothers lips, that
the elements rage and struggle. Still rises
their hymn of praise, though the waves no
longer Join tremendously with it, and the
furious winds would fain drown their weak
voices-yet they know that Gods great ear
is still open, and they still sing on.
The soldiers, however, have left the beach
and now cluster in the cottage, gazing out
through the door and windows whenever the
storm subsidies little, to see if the waters
yet cover their victims.
But still the wind blows-blows from the
West furiously-AND OFF THE LAND, Glory
to God Glory to God
The storm has abated. The soldiers rush
down to the beach. Still rises that hymn,
but family, scarcely audibly, from those glo-
rious women. Suddenly one of the soldiers
utters great shout Others hasten to the
rock upon which he is gazing.
"The tide has turned cry some.
"The tide has turned" others repeat,
with tone of reverence in their voices.
"The tide has turned; God has listened
to my prayer-he holds the waters in the
hollow of his hand-he speaks and the winds
obey him." said solemn voice, as Mr..
Cameron walked calmly amongst them.
1t was true--the mighty West wind had
held back the inhowing tide, and prevented
its rising to within a foot of its usual mark
and now the tide had turned again, and
the mother and daughter were safe.
Thornton would have laid hands upon the
minister" Touch him MOTT is the Lords
doings-He hath saved them! !" they cried
speaking quickly and sternly. Thornton
: skunk away to where his captain was stand
ing gazing upon the scene but saying moth
ing
Mutiny, captain-fat mutiny"-sat
Thornton, bitterly.
"Mutiny, is it / will teach them how tc
mutiny"-cried his officer, starting from hi.
apathy, drawing his sword, and selling one
of the offenders by the collar" Ha, villain
to your duty"
"Unhand me, or you will repent" ex
! claimed the soldier, fiercely pushing hin
, aside.
, so goes the game, does it 2" shouted
Johnston, as he gave the soldier a severe
wound in the side with his sword
The man staggered back few PAGES a
if he would have fallen-then, raising hi
r musket suddenly to his shoulder, he shot hi
officer dead on the spot.
: 1t must not be imagined that while THU
l alteration was going forward, Mr.. Cameron
was idle. Assisted by one of the bes
looking of the soldiers, he had already un
| bound and brought to land the helpless an,
: almost unconscious women. The soldier
then made rough litter with their muskets
t and carried them up the steep path to thu
5 cottage. Then bidding them adieu, respect
l fully, they departed.
BY the next day, having been refreshed
l with good nights sleep, both EfIie and he
1 mother were able to leave their beds. Blu
, months elapsed before they ceased to feel thu
: effects of their long exposure to the waves
1 As for Mr. Cameron, he was but seldom af
| forwards molested, the news of the wonder
; full escape of his wife and daughter having
! spread through all the country, even reach
5 ing the ears of the higher officers of tn,
State, creating sympathy for him as grea
as the circumstance was wonderful. As I,
: the circumstance itself, the opinions of thu
5 public were as usual, divided-the skeptica
$ denominating the coming on of the storm a
1 that particular juncture, the merest accident
. while the more devout and relgious-mnded
! hestated not to ascribe it to the direct agen
! cy of that great Being whose eye is over al
$ His works, and who, at the same time tina
= He governs the earth by general laws, ha
Y not put it out of His power to interfere il
the affairs of men, not in opposition to, Blu
! in accordance with those general laws, whe,