Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1856-11-27
From the New York Observer.
THE FISHERMAN'S BOY
AND
LITTLE ALINE.
By INA LESLIE

ana H0nlelY WitHCui, was neat "itihi: d
poor fisherman and his wife Winifred.-
They were very poor, and although at the
proper season he sold great many fish, du-
ring the long winter there was very little
that they could do. With all their power
tv, however, this worthy couple would have
been happy and content, but for the one
great trial Of theirlives which came to them
in the person of thtir only child-a lad
about sixteen years OF age. His whole
heart seemed to be occupied by a malicious
and evil spirit, leaving no room for the
good preeepts he constantly received from
his parents, and at which he only Knocked
Example and precept were alike wasted
upon Godfrey, who went continually or
from bad TO worse, bringing sorrow to the
home where only peace and happiness
should have found abode. His fayorite
sport was TO unfasten secretly his fathers
boat from its moorings, and he off before
day-break on some wild excursion, thus de-
priving the poor hard working fisherman
of a days subsistence, and never did he
manifest the least penitence for the sins
which were bowing his parents 10 the very
earth with weight of trouble and care; he
seemed hardened even at this early age.
Evening had closed upon wild, stormy
day, and one of deepest anxiety 10 the pool
fisherman and his wife; for Godfrey, the
previous day, had taken the boat in a mo-
ment of passion, to spite his father, who
had severely reproved him for some gross
and now the breakers dashed
high upon the rocky coast, and the raging
storm each moment increased in violence.
The unhappy parents no longer expected to
see again their wilful son, and their hearts
bowed with grief, for with al his faults
they loved their boy.
The fisherman sat with his head bow
ed upon his hands, and as the heavy thun-
der shook the little hut to It's foundation, and
the vivid lightning flashed through the
narrow easement, poor Winifred crept to
her husbands side, murme,ing, "Oh! God
frey my boy, my boy"
. They sat a long while in silent detection,
listening TO the bowling wind and the roar
ing ocean, when suddenly the door flew
open and little figure stood before them,
the water dripping from her hair and her
light garments. Winifred cried out in
alarm, but her husband rose to greet the
little maiden, and at that moment Godfrey
and the child turned eagerly to
him, clinging wildly to his arm, while the
tears streamed from her eyes. The parents
forgot their sons undutitulness now that
they beheld him safe and sound, and they
earnestly questioned him about the little
girl, who seemed to them being of quite
another sphere.
Godfrey explained that a noble ship had
been wrecked on the rocks few miles be-
low, and this lovely child, who had been
lashed to a plank was saved by his exer-
tions. The little girl was overcome with
grief, crying out again and again--"Oh
dear mamma and papa, | shall
never see you again. Coed, tender-heart-
ed Winifred wept bitterly at the sight Of
so much distress, and even the fisherman
himself brushed away a tear rs he took
Aline's tiny hand in his own hard, rough
one, and patting her head, bade her cheer
up, for he would take care of her.
After much persuation, Aline at last con-
sented to be led by the kind, motherly
fsherman's wife, into the one other room
of the house, and to be diyested of her
dripping garments. With sad gaze she
watched the good mother, as the gathered
together all that her slender stock could
afford for the young lady's comfort, and
she saw that Winifred's tears fell thick and
fast as she unlocked her chest and unfold
ed one by one some plain, neat clothes,
which seemed about the size Of Aline's own.
The observant child understood all at once,
and she said SOFTLY
'Did your own little daughter wear
these?'
"Yes my pretty one" exclaimed Win-
fred clasping the little girl in her arms
"and now she is an angel in heaven, | am
sure, for she was always one on earth; she
was just about your own age, my darling,
l should think ,-nearly seven when she
left us, and year older than Godfrey
| could not let any one but myself touch
the clothes she wore; but you shall have
them all pretty pet, you will wear any
thing so homely."
II shall be very glad" returned Aline,
''for mamma says poor little children
may be in reality much better than in my
fine dresses. Oh, mamma, will you not
come to me again. And at the thought
of her loss, the poor child's sobs broke out
afresh, and even Godfrey failed to pacify
her. Before many hours. she was tossing
in delirious fever, and for many days her
little life hung on very slender thread, but
the all-wise God spared her for some good.
1t was quite marvel to the fisherman
and his wife to note the change in Godfrey
during these days of anxiety. He rarely
left the side of the sweet sufferer, and
would minister to her wants with ail the
tenderness ola woman, following the dec
tors slightest direction with rigid exact
ness: and when strength was beginning TO
return to the invalid, he would carefully
carry her out into the bright sunlight and
,rv 10 divert her from the fearful sorrow
which had come to cloud her young life.
One dav, after she had become quite
strong and well, she strolled down to the
beach, and was sitting behind huge rock,
sadly looking at the blue ocean, and think
ing of the loved parents who were buried
in its depths, when she was startled bv hear
ing loud and angry tones, and Instantly she
recognized Godfrey's voice. Aline jumped
up quickly and saw the fisherman just in
The act of pushing of his boat, while his
son stood on the shore addressing him in