Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-30
THE FISHERMAN


as II no storm from the one had ever disturbed
the repose of the other; and even the ocean
that great highway Of the world-lay as gentle
as II It's bosom had never betrayed-as if no
traveller had ever sunk to death in its embrace.
The sun had gone down, and the pensive twilight
would have reigned over nature, but for the
moon, which rose in her full-orbed beauty the
queen Of an illimitable world, to smile upon
the goodly things ofours, and TO give n radiance
and glory to all she shone upon. It was an
hour and scene that led the soul to the con-
temptation of Him who never ceases to watch
over the works he has made, and whose protec-
ting care displays itself alike upon the solid
land and the traekless wastes Of the deceitful
sea.
On such an evening, group was assembled
around one OF the ishermen's cottages The
habltatlOn was built in the true spirit of the
olden time, when comfort was the principal OBJ
Ject OF the proprietor. At either side of the
door was scattered the lines, and nets, and bas-
kets, that betOkened the calling of the owner
and the fisherman was taking his farewell for
the night OF his happy, loving family, who were
bidding him - God speed on his yoyaoe
hne old man was leaning his arms on the rail-
ing, and talking to an interesting girl, whose
hand lay on the shoulder of a younger sister
The stout fisherman, dressed in his rough Jerkin
and large boots, that reached far above the
knees, was in the act Of kissing little cherub.
who seemed half terrified at being elevated so
high as his fathers lips; while the wife and
mother, with her infant nursing on her lap
was looking anxiOusly upon her husband as she
breathed the parting blessing and the prayer
Tor his safe return. 4 little bow the miniature
Of his father In eountenance and in dress bear
ing huge boat-cloak across his shoulders and
the lantern that was to give light when the
moon departed, completed the group, If we ex-
cept noble Newfoundland dog, some steps in
advance OF the party, watching for the nod to
commence his march for a kind of pier where
the fisherman and his boy were to embark
Good luck, good luck" exclaimed the old
man; = good luck and safe home again. John:
ye want naught more than Gods blessing. and
that We may have for asking; but We may as
well take mine tOo-God bless We, and good bye
10 We -
The blessing was heartily echoed by his kind
partner and his children, and whistling as he
went, with his boat-hook on his shoulder his
dog Neptune before. and his boy, following
he trudged along to the beach.
With the earliest dawn of morning the fisher
man. family were astir; the little girl was bus
lily arranging their little parIor, while the
younger was preparing their breakfast table
and the mother was spreading before the fire
the cloths Of her husband and her boy. An
hour passed, and she grew somewhat uneasy
that he had remained abroad beyond the usual
perod OF his return. Another hour had clap
sed, when she said to her father, Father, go
out to the hillock, and try to his sail on the
water; be seldom STAYS out so long when the
too was not quite well last light and this alone
should have fastened him home"
The old man went forth. and one by one his
grandchildren followed him, until the mother
was left alone, rocking the cradle of her uncon-
sclous babe After the lapse Of another hour,
her daughter entered, with news that a neigh
Dor had spoken to her father in the night, and
that he certainly would be home soon
God grant it :" said she, and she spoke in a
tone Of deep anxiety. = He never was 50 long
hvnf 81 Il L n
crew of the ship Mary, and then the whirl of
the sinking vessel had well-nigh made his grave
Again she stirred the fire, again arranged
the clothes before ii and poured some hot water
into the tea cups. Still the breakfast remain
ed untouched.
The sun was now soaring to his meridian
height, when once more the family assembled
IN their humble dwelling;-the prop of the
whole was yet wanting. They sat down to a
cherries meal, the seats at either side of the
wife remained vacant. The old man was the
only individual who appeared to anticipate no
evil, but he hastily finished his breakfast, and
went forth.
The noon was rapidly passing, and the sun
had already given token of the glory of his de-
parture, when the fsherman's wife, having
lulled her infant TO sleep, went herself to the
hill that commanded an extensive view Of the
wide spread ocean. All the little household
coon assembled on the spot, but no boat was
seen upon the waters-nothing that could give
hope except the aspect Of the waves, which
looked too placid to be dangerous.
Their deep dread was no longer concealed
and while the old man passed to and fro, look
ing earnestly at brief intervals over the lonely
sea, the mother and daughter were sobbing
sudi6ly.
:. Fearless let him be, whose trust is in his
Cod exclaimed the father. The sentence was
uttered involuntarily, but had its effect.
All" said the mother, I" he always trusted
in God, and God will not forsake him now"
. Do you remember, Jane" continued the
old man, how often Providence was with me,
amid the storm and the wreck, when help from
man was far of, and would have been useless if
near
And they cheered and encouraged each other
10 hope for the best, but to submit to the decree
Of Heaven, whether it came as the gentle dew
10 nOurish, or as the heavy rain to Cypress
From that hillock, which overlooked the ocean,
assembled their mingled prayers that God would
not leave them desOlate.
The fsherman-the object Of their hopes and
fesrs-had been very successful during the
night, when, at day break, as he was preparing
IN return home. he remembered his promise to
bring with him some sea-weed 10 manure the
potato plot behind his cottage He was then
close TO rocks which were only observable at
low water; he pulled for them, jumped ashore
fastened the painter to the jutti4g part of cliff
and took his bOat-hOOk with him. He collected
sufficient quantity of the weed, but, in his
eagerness 10 obtain IT, had wandered from the
landing place, when he heard his boy hallOing
and exclaiming that the painter was loose. He
rushed instantly toward the boat which was
then several yards of; the boy was vainly en-
deavOring to use both oars, and Neptune, the
faithful dog, was running backward and for
ward, bowling fesrfully, if conscious of his
masters danger-at one moment about TO
plunge into the waves tn join him, and the next
licking the face and hands of the child; as if he
saw that for him his protection was most needed
The fisherman perceived once the desDer-
ate nature of his situation the tide was coming
in rapidly, and his hope Of escape was at an
end, when he perceived that his boy, in his eff
fort to use the oars had let one Of them fall
overheard.
what shall I do 30 The boat was at this mo-
ment 50 far distant that his distracted father
could scarcely hear the words, but he called