Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-03-30

since the death Of her husband. She was
full Of painful anxiety, and was very often
famished for want of food, and endured great
hardships Her only son had just left school
and was so unhappy at the state to which
his poor mother was reduced, that he went
about everywhere, seeing what be could do
to help her. I'VE must not die Of hunger
said he one day, slet me 60 to sea perhaps
/ may be able to earn something for you. -
His poor mother at last gave way to his en-
/ treaties, but it cost her great deal TO let
him go, and almost broke her heart The
young boy went to the nearest seaport, to
see if he could get put on board merchant
vessel. He asked great many captains to
take him, but all in vain. After spending
many days in going from one to the other,
weary and sad, he thought he must return to
poor mother, but the thought of being bur-
den to her made him desperately miserable.
Just then he saw another captain looking at
him. John THAT was the boys name) went
up to him directly, and said, please Sir,
don't you want cabin-boy 2 sI'm looking
out for one here said the captain, ooh, then
dear sir, do take me- SHOW me your tes-
| timonials.' sNo one knows me here, Sir if
/ were in my own parish, I could easily get
some.' Il can't take a boy into my ship with
out any recommendation ooh, Sir, I'll be
so obedient I'll be so obedient. I'll do
whatever you bid me p ooh, that's very
well to say, my good fellow but, once for
all / say, I'll not have boy without his GER
tifcates.' Poor John thought moment,
and looked about him with great sadness
Suddenly he recollected he had got his BIZ
Bile. He took it out of his pocket, and showed
the captain what was written on the first page.
will that do, Sir, for testimonial 2 The
captain rcad,-sGiven to John Reynolds as
q reward for his good conduct in the Sunday
School, sWcll my boy, I'll take you on
that recommendation. Follow ME quickly
to my ship
John is now on board, on his way to St.
Petersburg. After few days, violent
storm arose, and the vessel was in danger Of
shipwreck. In the midst of the general con-
fusion and alarm, John took out his Bible
and read the 51st Psalm aloud to them. He
then knelt down, and earnestly prayed to
God to make the storm cease, and to save
them from, its fury Ono by one, the sailors
and even the captain, gathered around him,
fell on their knees and prayed with him.
1t pleased God to hear their prayer, the wind
ceased, and the ship went on its way in safe
! ty. 1T was happy day for me when de-
cided to take you, my boy said the captain.
CAS- soon as We reach St. Petersburg, you
shall have day on shore, for your prayers
have sa, ed the ship He kept his promise,
and the boy employed his holiday in going
all over that large and beautiful city. He
stopped in front of the Enperor's palace,
and stood still, admiring all the magnificent
carriages which were passing to and fro
While thus employed, he saw something fall
out of one of them. He picked it up it was
beautiful diamond bracelet. He ran after
the carriage, and called out to the coachman,
to stop, but it was useless. The carriage was
soon out of sight. John went back directly
to the captain, and showed him what he had
found. YOU'RE a lucky fellow John these
are very valua bic diamonds. sBut they are
not mine, answered John. where did you
find them 2 They fell out close to me. /
but the coachman drove on, and neither saw
nor heard me- SWELL, John, you did all you
could to give them to their owner now thcy
are yours, you can sell them in London, and
and get great deal of money for them
But John was much too homes to be caught
by the bait. 'No, no, captain, the diamonds
are net mine. Ifw had storm returning
to England, could not pray to God with
such dishonest intentions in my heart and
what would become of us then7 = sAh,
had not thought of that, said the captain,
who only wanted to try him, --'come, We'll
try and find the owner He was soon dis
covered, and John received ESQ as a re-
ward for his honesty. An immense sum for
him. BY the captains advice he laid it out
in furs, which he Afterwards sold in England
for double the price they had cost him
With this little fortune, and light joyous
heart, be begin his journey home. He soon
saw the cottage where he left his poor moth
or; but the path was all grown over with
grass, the windows were shut up, the house
was empty. Poor John was almost broken
hearted. Doubtless be thought smy poor
mother has died of want and misery But
he just then recognized one Of the neighbors,
who ran up to him, and told him his mother