The Trinity times., 1855-06-09


resumed the boatman, 'as had never prayed
before. Il besuught the Lord, sir, as David
SAYS, and he heard me, and 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 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 il
seemed certain that at the falling of the tide
the wreck would lurch 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 dashng over
my head. Well, sir, 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, Just able to hold on; but believed
that when the tide came in again it would be
all over with me. ] cannot tell you what my
thoughts were. sir; seemed 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 tell, if had not soon
had something else to think about
1T was a 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
i was not much Of a 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 n
bout time left the rock; in another half hour
should have been washed away
'lrearhed the beat, sir pretty nearly ex
haustcd and ulung to it till had got breath
and strength 10 raise myeelf on to its hull,
which did at last
And then you felt yourself safel
'Ay, for "A lttle while tanced something
Of the sorti but you may give guess, per
haps, that should have felt trie safer if
had been ashore
'Where you were being drifted, hope
4 hoped 50. sir, and kept up IL good heart
for awhile; but by and by the tide turned
again. and knew | was going fart er and
farther out to sea; and there was not a sail
within sight, You may not think it, sir, but
ieit as il | could cry like a child. ! was
faint with fatigue. and dried rp with thirst
aud almost envied my poor partner his fate
-leasl ways, if had been as ready TO dc rs
he was
'All that day, sir, was on the water, hold
ing on to the old boat. 1t was a 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 to quench my thirst
about noon that day ! looked round and
saw a sail, maybe a couple OF miles to wind
ward. | need not say how | watched it. aud
what would have given to have been with
in hail. II came nearer, and | shouted
nearer still, and ! shouted again. | thought
they heard me, for IN a minute or two the
ships course was altered point or So !
kept haiing, sir, I'll my voice WAS gone; and
then | saw the vessel--a schooner--sallng
oif, when there wasn't, may be half mile be-
tween US
That afternoon. another sail, and then an
other passed me, but too tar off for me to
make myself heard, while ! knew was be-
ing driaed every minute farther out to sea.
1T was getting towards dusk ana | was
nearly persisted with cold and hunger. a
sort Of feeling came over me, sir, that it was
no use to hold on any longer. 1t was better
to die at once than TO die by inches in that
way. ! think my senses wandered, or per
haps swoonrd; | can't say; but know
had hold Of the keel with both hands and
my head was across my arms, when, all al
once, the Tapping Of sail reused me, and
then heard shout, a hoy there-boata hoy.
i never head such blessed sound as that
in my whole life sir, btiore ~ slnce-never.
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
Wei, 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 nlghtiall
that stepped mp softly to the cottage door.
A light was burning. and the curtains were
not drawn. | looked in, sir. There was
poor Esther, pale aud thin with grief and
watching, nursing our little one and hushng
it to sleep. Beside here was nelghbor busy
at needework, 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. 4 happy night that was
for us, sir
A DOMESTIC CuRiosIrY.-A correspondent
Of the Detroit Advertiser says that the spin
81. So