The Trinity times., 1855-06-09

/ prayed that nlGht ana that houf, SIR.
resumed the boatman, 'as had never prayed
before Il besought the Lord, sir, as David
SAYS, 'and he heard me, aud delivered me
from all my fears But it was hard strug-
gle for life, sir, that | had
How did you escape7' inquired the listener.
1t was a Mercy resumed the seaman,
that the wind began to sink a little: but the
raned poured down heavily, and the waves
rolled in great heavy swells ANYHOW, !
did not expect to see the morning, for 1t
seemed certain that at the falling of the tide
the wreck would lurcb over and sink like a
stone.
Just that thing happened, and sooner than
| expected. had only time to jump over
board when | felt her going: and, by Gods
mercy, sir, got fast hold of a point of the
rock that was then above water. | clung to
it for dear life; how managed | can't think
to this day, for my senses were almost gone
for the time; ard it seemed as if all the
waves of the sea were pulling at me to get
me under. BY the time came to- found my
self on my knees, with the rock under me-
and the waves every moment Gashng over
my head Well, sir, l managed to raise my
self on my feet, and turned round to look for
the wreck but she was gone.
Through the rest Of that night was on
the rock, lust able to hold on; but believed
that when the tide came in again it would he
all over with me. ! cannot tell you what my
thoughts were. sir; Iseemed like in dream.
Well, morning came, at last, and then the
tide was rising again. This is the last morn
ing / shall ever see; | remember thinking
that, and think too, of poor Esther
1t was strange notion; but my mird
would keep running upon how it would be
when my body was picked up, may be, and
carried ashore who would break the news
to Esther, and what would be SAID; and then
fanced ! saw her in widows weeds, and
the little one all in black; and then could
not help laughing to myself at my queer fan
cies, as If it would matter to me how these
things went. How long might have gone
on in this way | can't t, Il, il had not soon
had something else to think about.
1T was black speck upon the water, sir
no bigger than lat it looked. watched
it. and watched it, and it came nearer and
nearer. 1t was cur boat, sir bottom upwards
Il was not much Of swimmer, but thinks
/, there's some hope now; and managed to
get off my shoes and heavy jacket, and
struck cut to the poor old boat. 1t was a.
bout time left the rock; in another halt hour
should have been washed away
'Ireached the boat, sir, pretty nearly ex-
hausted ard clung to it TIL | had got breath
and strength to raise myself on to its hull,
which did at last
And then YOU felt Yourself safcl'
'Ay, for IA httle while iaucied something
Of the sort; but YOU may give guess, per
hap., that should have felt a trAe safer if
had been ashore
'Where you were being drifted, hope
i hoped SO, sir, and kept up good heart
for awhile; but by and by the tide turned
again and knew | was going fart or and
farther out to sea; and there was not sail
within sight You may not think it, sir, but
ielt as if | could cry like "A child. ] WAS
faint with fatigue. and dried rp with thirst.
and almost envied my poor partner his fate
--leaslways, if had been as ready TO de as
he was
'All that day, sir, was on the water, hold
ing on to the old boat. It was dark, gloomy
day; but that vas mercy; if the sun had
been hot upon me, should have gone mad,
| think; as it was, was only chilled to the
bones, while the showers that now aud then
fell, if they soaked me to the skin, they help
cd me tn quen h my thirst
about noon that day | looked round and
saw sail, maybe a couple OF miles TO wind
ward. | need not say how watched it. and
what would have gwen to have been with
in hail 1t came nearer, and | shouted
nearer still, and shouted again. / thought
they heard me, for in minute or two the
ships course was altered a point or SO.
kept hailing, sir, TIL my voice WAS gone; and
then saw the vessel--a schooner--salling
of, when there wasn't, may be half a mile be-
tween us
That afternoon. another sail, and then an
other passed me, but too far off for me to
make myself heard, while knew | was be-
ing drifted every minute farther out to sea.
1T was getting towards dusk, ana was
nearly perished with cold and hunger. a
sort of feeling came over the, sir, that il was
no use to hold on any longer. 1t was better
to die at once than 10 die by inches IN that
way. | think my senses wandered, or per
haps sWooncd; | can't say; but ! know
had hold Of the keel with both hands, and
my head was across my arms, when, all at
once, the Tapping Of a sail reused me, and
then heard shout, "A hoy there-boata hoy
Il never head such blessed sound rs that
in my whole life, sir, before OF slnce-neyer.
You may think how it put life into me. In
five minutes more ! was safe on board the
vessel, that had pretty near been running me
down. She was coal brig
We'll, sir, three days afterwards ] was
landed, fifty miles more from home. You
may guess that was not longer on the road
than could help. 1t was towards nightiall
that stepped mp softly to the cottage door.
4 light was burning. and the curtains were
not drawn. | looked in, sir. There was
poor Esther, pale and thin with erief and
watching, nursing our iiuie one and flushing
it to sleep Beside here was neigfbor busy
at needlvwork, and on tbs table was heap
Of black stuff and Grape. did not wait to
see any more; the next minute poor Esther
was in my arms. a happy night that was
for us sir
A DoMEsTIc CCRIosITY.-A correspondent
Al. q