Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-01-08
Self Devotion.
A THRILLING TALE.

n AhhALAlAu AANH'
In the latter part of the month of February,
many years since, schooner from the State Of
Maine which had been to New York with car
90, and was on her return home, anchored under
Sandy Point. The wind increasing from the
Northwest to gale, she parted her cables sail
was got upon her as soon as possible, but not
having in much ballast she did not fetch in to
the westward of Great Point Light; on the North
ern part Of Nantucket and had therefore to 90
outside or to the eastward of the island. With q
comparatively light vessel, and with no cables
or anchors, and with prospect of snow
storm before him, the captain of the schooner
did not think it prudent or proper to be thus fore.
ed to go to sea with the wind blowing almost a
hurricane.
He made up his mind, therefore, at once to
run his vessel on to Nantucket, which, with the
wind at northwest, would make entire lee and
enable him to land without much danger. Al
this was effected the vessel was beached, and
the crew, consisting of the captain, mate,
and two young men, one about the age Of nine
teen, and the other about seventeen, both sons
of the captain, were landed in safety, except
perhaps, the incidental exposure and fatigue,
about five o'clock in the afternoon. The place
of their landing was about three miles from
Great Point Light, to which they proposed to
proceed, it being, as they supposed the nearest
place where they could find rest and shelter
for the night.
The mate took up his line of march first, the
captain and his two sons having remained to SO
cure few things about the boat, and then to
follow Immediately after hfQ. The whole dis
lance to be travelled, was Aver sandy beach,
against a furious Northwest h bicSins direct in
their faces, ana hurting x sand ard gravel.
with occasional fights of 5ow, making it very
difficult to even keep Soothod against the
combined elements.
The mate succeeded after much difficulty in
reaching the keeper of the lights hospital man
sion in safety. A far different fate was to be
the lot of some of his companions.
luC Cdplulu was d lluu WIN was lHuTGu from
his boyhood to hardship and toll his was the
will and the power which the elements could
not conquer. Taking the lead of his sons for
the purpose of breaking off as much as possible
the force of the wind, he kept them immediate.
ly behind him, and thus their journey commence
ed. One half the distance, perhaps, was over
e. ;noro6i hIa N viaIu nd n
on the part of their father, when the youngest
son begged his father aud brother to go and
leave him, as his strength had 50 entirely failed
that he could walk no longer
No persuasion could revive his exhausted pow.
ers, and it became necessary to act as the exig.
y ency of The case required. The father taking
off his own outside overcoat thut his limbs might
be more free to act, wrapped it round the less
= hardy frame OF his son, and taking him in hlt
, arms, the toilsome Journey was again resumed
For half mile did the fathers power of en-.
y durence bear up against The violence of the
storm with his additional burden; but his cur
was not yet full the other son now showed
the symptoms that his exhausted nature was
about to give way, and few minutes afte
he sunk to the gound, apparently unable 10 rise
. Laying down the one he had borne 50 long
L the father took up the elder, and carrying him
: some distance, he left him and then returned
p and TOOK up the younger and brought him TO the
o same point, and thus the old man struggled al
ternately carrying the one and then returning
and bringing the other to the same place, whis
perng hope in their ears, slsiSS5, alas, were las
10 becommng insensbe to their parents love.
y was a sight, it would seem, some plying ange
= might have relieved.
" The younger son was growing very weak ant
- insensbe and when tho father laid him dow
III for the last time, he saw that the elements haC
~ done their work, and that his poor boy was
&c rest
) Going back and taking the elder in his arms
l. he redoubed his exerions to save him; on h
y struggled, and between the flashes of tn
d, storm the light could be seen in the distance
d. but fortItudc, energy and perseverance were O
ma avail; q single moan told him he was child
t. less.
,e The old man arrived at the light, and foun
in that preparations had been made TO come out i
s. search of him; tears he had not many to shed
lie Such people have but fow to their call; thos'
- few, however, make a furow which never leave
the face but with the close of their earthly exist
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