Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-09

pocket, and taking out a biscuit vet with salt
water offered it to the child George seized il
| with avidity, and was putting it to his mouth.
| when remarking that the captain had none for
| himself, he said And what will yof do can
| tain ~
"Est it," said Varenne briefly. ls e-
The boy did not wait TO be desired q second
| time.
The next night was dreadful. varennc pre-
served moody despairing silence; only from
| time to time he moistened with O piece of ice
the lips of the poor child, whose strength was
| fast failing.
go captain, 1 am very cold-very weak. o
my poor mother ~ -....
And then came back viyidly to his remem-
| brance his little soft white bed, in which his
kind old nurse tucked him up so snugly every
| night; his nice supper of white bEGad and hot
| milk, even the piece of dry bread which was
| given to him for dinner when he behaved bad
| ly. Oh, what would he have given now for
! even one half of that bit of bread Thus
psSsed the long weary night in dreadful suf-
| ferings and uaavailing regrets. At daybreak,
as soon as the fog was sufficiently dispersed to
allow them to distingui sh objects. they per
ceived floating past the ice a cask of cider.
| With great exeTtions the captain at length
succeeded in securing it, and hearty draught
| greatly refreshed them both.
Captain" said George, :" we have forgot
ten one thing which may save u.s.
| "What is that ~
To pray to God.n
Varenne sighed deeply.
| Yes, captain," continued George, as he
tried to kneel on the slippery ice, "whenever "
mamma was in grief she used to pray to God,
and lie always cOmforted her. She often told
me 50, and She always spoke the truth. Do,
| dear captain, kneel down by me-
Whether from conviction, or merely from r
wish to please the boy, Farenne obeyed; and
| George, in simple, childish words, asked their
Heavenly Father to forgive them all their
sins, and especially his great one in disobeying
and torsaking his parents, for which he was
now justly punished; also, for their Saviour's
sake to take care of them, and deliver them
from their dreadful situation.
They had not long risen from their knees
when they saw drifting by them small empty
| oo&t, which the captain recognised as having
| belonged to his ship. They caught it. got into
1t, and Varenne guided it carefully through
the lccbergs-the slightest shock from which
would have crushed il like an egg shelI--soon
| perceived that they were not far from land
AT length they reached the shore and land
| ed, the captain carrying George in his arms,
for the child'S limbs were weak and numbed.
Inc sun rose, and in some degree warmed
| them; and the captain filed his hat with mus
c.es, which he found among the rocks. George
had often eaten of these shell-fsh, delicately
| cooked and sent up to his parents table, but
never did he think them half so good or sa-
voury as now that he was glad to devour them
| raw Their hunger in some measure appeased.
| q new fear took possession of the captain.
lie wanted to explore the coast, and ascef.
tain what chance they had of escaping; but
George was too weak to accompany him, and
ne dared not leave him alone. for fear Of the
bears and other wild animals that infest these
northeFn, G,I ~ animals Indeed, in hi. ~.-k
anu tolaiiy unarmed condition, he could make
Uar L
while Eliminating over this dilemma, George
suddenly gave cry of joy, and with a
trembling hand pointed cut to his compauion
an English vessel coming along the shore.
What joy, The crew perceived them, ard
three men put off ia boat towards the spot
where they were. The captains habitual re-
serve gave way before the transport caused
by this unlocked for deliverance; he folded
George in his arms, and with tears of JOY en-
braced him as if he had been his son.
g Let US kreel down, captain whispered
the boy, "And thank God for His goodness in
saving US The old sailor obeyed, and joined
tervently in Georges simple thanksgiving.
Presently the boats bow touched the shore,
and the three sailors leaping out, raised the
exhausted pair in tileir arms
carry the child, said Varenne; II am
still strong enough to walk As soon as they
had got on board the vessel, everything pos
sible was done for their health and comfort.
Inc captains wife took George under her es-
pecIal care, and he was soon perfectly re-
stored After few days sail, the English
vessel crossed the track of a French brig, the
Natalie, of Granville, bound for that port
They hailed it; and Varenne and George hav-
ing taken a grateful farewell of their kind
English friends, went on board their country
mems vessel. They were landed at Havre,
and Narenne invited George to accompany
him to his inn. The boy thanked him, but
Il hn 6rzf hg,,
feel happy until he had seen his parents, and
obtained their pardon.
"Weil," said Varenne, "if you don come
TO me to morrow morning, will GO to see you
at your fathers house. By the way, don't |
think ever asked you his name" |
"Pleville-le-Pelley," said George, as he |
walked towards | is home.
We will leave it to our readers to imagine
how the truant hoy made himself known TO |
bis sorrowing parents-hOw speedily their grief |
was turned into joy-and how his mother /
shuddered, and drew him closer to her bosom,
when he told her Of the shipwreck and the |
iceberg. |
Where are you going, my love-" asked |
Madame Pleville, when she saw her husband /
take up his hat, and prepare to go out
To bring here that brave Captain Varenne:
but for him, this boy would have been lost.
He SOD reappeared with the desired guest, and /
the whole history of their adventure was gone
over again. |
- hope my child,'' said Madame PIeville,
" that you have now had enough of sea-life.
and will be content to remain quietly at |
home"
81 hope quite the contrary" said the cap-
tain roughly: 81 dare say he is only anxious
to off again.
If what he has suffered has not suficed
to disgust him with the profession said his
father, 4" it must be his vocation to become o
sailor -
And sailor George Rene PleviIle le Pelley
became and continued during his life After
having made several voyages to Newfoundland
and elsewhere, he entered his country's SER
vice, and in an engagement with an English
frigate, he lost his right leg. This accident
however, did not impede either his activity
or his promotion. Twice was the wooden leg
shot from under him him; and he used to con.
gratulate himself that he thus gave the work
to the carpenter, and not to the surgeon
In ITO, ill health forced him tn retire for q |