Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1851-11-10

| prepared 10 oeSceno, ana Placing the babe
in her young daughter s arms, with word
Of caution turned from them and was sale
ly seated in the boat By the dim light
OF the lamp she watched the coming Of
Anna, with her precious burden, and with
anxious fear saw then, lifted to the boats
edge. She reached forward 10 secure
thea,, but Anna toltered, and in moment
was plunged into the rolling waters. A
shrill shrek rent the air and rang III rough
the boat with such wild agony as awoke
every sleeper.
My child! my Annu!" cried the iran.
tic mother, as size gazed wildly into the
dark waters that had closed over her 10, ed
| ones.
'Save them! save them!" she shrieked,
while she struggled 10 throw herself after
them, though firmly held by one Of the
oarsmen. ,''he lights flung abroad gleam-
ed upon the waters, and enabled him 10 dis.
Germ any object that appeared. The father
peered into the darkness with keen,
quick gaze, and then gave loud shout, as
dark mass rose 10 the surface. With q
few expert strokes the swimmer reached
Anna, as she was sinking beneath the
waves again, and with srong hold he
grasped and bore her sulely to the arms of
distracted mother, who folded the drip.
ping exhausted child 10 her bosom. Sill
she shrieked-
"My child! my babe is gone! oh save
him tool" And with gestures she entreat-
ed them to find it.
f'What Dies she mean:" asked the as
tonished oarsmen.
"Anna had The babe in her arms when
lifted her down to you," replied the ex>
cited and bewil6ered father.
Without another word the generous
boatman plungea into the water again, and
gided here and there in search of the lost
10 vain the lights flashed hither aid ,hi,h
er, throwing long streak OF brightness t"
the shore. Nothing was visible, and hope
sank in the hearts Of the lockers on who
had gathered upon deck, and even the harsh
captain pitied The mother, as he heard her
agonized sobs, and when the search was
abandoned, and the boatman returned chill
ed and wearied from his fruitess efforts. =
No one spoke, aud many eyes still watched
the ruffied waters. Amid the silence, save
the hall stifled grief Of the bereaved moth
er, the boa. glided slowly away. the oars
dipping lightly into the waters that had
embusemed the sleeping babe. On and on
they softly moved Till lie boat lights glim-
mered in the distance, and they could see
the wavy lines of The shore, and the dark,
dreary wood that bordered il.
Close upon the shore stood few ham
lets; and here in the dnight darkness,
they left the half drowned Anna. Poor
Mary sat moaning upon the river bank,
cIasping he only remaining child, and
straining her gaze alar upon the water in
| search OF tie lost one. The conscience
stricken father h,slened to the nearest cot
tage for relief, while the skff pushed from
the shore, and returned 10 the steamboat,
which in little time was noisiiy pursuing
and putting along the river, and leaving
behind the broken group that had been
despoiled OF their treasure.
Quiet was again restored among the
passengers, ,and each returned to his dreams,
or his waking thoughts Of the unhappy
midnight scene-sone 10 sympathize-
some to censure-all soon 10 forget. in the
busy whirl of life, the sad lesson, that how ,
ever man may err, woman is the grea!
sufferer thereby, and few, ii any d profit
by the warning Of The gamblers misfor-
tunes.