Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-05-30

I den ecstacy Of infantiIe joy, she exclaim-
ed:
%, Willie, Willie Let US go out there
and sail on the beautiful blue ocean i
Won't it be grand? So much pretter
than this little, dirty cove, with the bare
sand banks all about u.s.
Willie sprang to his feet, and, gazing
out into the offing, bis bright eyes lit up
with the enthusiasm caught from his SIS
ler's words, and he instantly replied:
Well 60 out there, and have lorious
sail-just like the great ships and steams
boats that we see go by.
%, don't go out there, brother inter-
posed little Jenny, her cheek growing pale
as the delicate lily. Don't go, Willie !
Mother will be angry with u.s.
| sMother will do no such thing, Jenny,
she will be proud Of us, to think we have
been out on the big ocean all alone. |
can very easily come back with the flood
tide thatll soon be setting in And, with
out father argument, the reckless boy put
his helm up, eased off the sheet, and a
way out through the inlet towards the line
of blue water outside, went the launch,
hurried along before the strong breeze,
which, added to the strength Of the last
quarter ebb, bore her away at speed
that soon sunk the yellow sand ridge to
mere line along the margin of the wide
ocean, and the white cottages with the
Venetian blinds into toy houses dotted
with bright green specks. The colored
water-which appeared from the cove
only like narrow strip dividing the white
surface from the deep azure Of the ocean
beyond-expanded into broad belt OF
several miles in width. But with the fine
breeze and strong outset Of the tide, the
boat sped on; while the novelty of their
position, and the natural excitement lndu-
ced BY it, caused the time and space TO
fly past unheeded by the young voyagers'
and sudden dread came upon them as,
having gained the blue water, they looked
back towards the shores and saw hills,
fields, houses and orchards all blending,
rowing indistinct, and fading away IN the
dim distance. There was a sense OF
lonely, utter helpIessness suddenly shad-
owing their bright visions; and there was
world of pathos in little Jennys sweet
low voice, as size laid her hand gently up
on her brothers arm, and looking up INTO
his eyes, whispered:
%, Willie, let US go home. Mother
would feel very bad, if she knew we had
come away out here
Willie bent down his head and kissed
his sisters fair, pale cheek, as he replied /:
I'VE will 60 back home, Jenny. was
naughty TO come off SO far from the land.
But don't cry, sister. am very sorry
Don't blame me-I couIdut help it; do
love the sea so much
mo, we wont blame you, Willie, only
let us hurry back; for see, yonder IS a
terrible black cloud coming up IN the
west, and am afraid if we do not
The childs speech was interrupted by
groan Of anguish from her brother,
whose eye, for the first time, had been
directed towards bank Of dark, murky
clouds heaying up in the western board,
by his sisters remark; and at the very
instant that his vision first rested upon the
black pail, chain of brilliant, zigzag
lightning rose quiVering along its upper
edge, and few moments later, there
came to their ears the low, muttered roar
of far, off thunder.
The young captain had hauled his lit
tie vessel by the wind, but the clumsy
thing lay broad off under her i'll fitted sail.
Besides, the wind, which she had scarcely
felt while running off before it, had now
increased SO much that she heeled over
till there was great danger Of her capslz-
ing, to prev ent which, Willie, assisted by
his two sisters, set about reefng the sail.
This was soon accomplished, and again
the boat was steered as close as she would
90. which at best was little better than
eight points, SO that with her great lee
way. Willie soon found that, in spite of
his utmost skill, his craft was drifting
rapidly out to sea.
Nearer and nearer rolled on the embat-
tied Iegions of black storm clouds; louder
came the fearful thunder crashes; more
vivid cleaned the red lightnings flash;
wilder the shrieking gale swept by, how'
ling and screaming dread notes of terror
to the young voyagers. The water
which in with the land was quite smooth,
began to heave up in huge, foam-crested
waves, here and there all around them,
curling over and breaking, all feather
white in long lines Of snowy, kissing
spray. Great round drops of rain came
pattering down In the water, and pelting