Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-06-17
MORNING LEADER.
THE YOUTHFUL VOYAGRRS.
A Thrilling story

2 eyes about ten years old, who during his a.
dress, was busily engaged in rigging the ma
and sail to ships launch which was made ia
: to beach in one ofthose secluded, pieturesdu
\ little covers, or inlets, with which the sotIt
shore of Long Island, between Fire Island an
koekaEay, Is 50 plentifuily injented.
The boys companions were two little girl
ofsix and eight years, beautiful as angels, an
so exactly like their brother in every festur.
that they seemed as perfect eOpies-all but Oh
long sunny nngie's-Of his exquisite face
Annie, the elder girl. bounded lightly int
the boat at her brothers first invitation, and be
gan assisting him about the SAIL. Bot ittl
Jenny, who was tugging along 4 great baske
filled with pies, sweet cakes and fruits, Whiel
they had brought from beautiful cottage Hn
! far OIL for little picnic dinner, hesitaied il
silence, till her brother urged her again to ge
into the boat when she began to argue viii
him thus
80, Willie, don't let US 90 into the boat TO
day there Is SO much wind and we nigh
be"
"YOu are little coward, Jenny, to be afraid. y
interrupted the young captain impaiiently. at
is the pleasantest day we have had IN a month:
and it is SO late in the fall that if we don't 90
to-day, am sure We will not get another change
tins year Come, Jenny, don't be frightened
] Jump m
40, I am not at all afraid, brother;n and
child as she was, little Jenny's cheeks rIowed
for few moments with a deeper vernillion
tint, at the implied question Of courage by her
brother.
"Pm not in the least afraid, Willie, but Won
know that mother has often told US we must
not 60 IN the boat when it blows hard; all am
afraid of is disobeyiDg her"
"Then you may come in the boat without
fear, sister, for mother told me might sail this
afternoon, not five minutes before we left the
house"
"fes, know that, Willie, bat that was two
hours ago, whsn ii was calm. Il blows 4 great
deal har~,r nov, and I'm sure mother would
not ike US to 60 away from the shore in the
boat when there is such high wind"
20, nonsense, Jenny, have been all around
the cove when it blows great deal harlerthap
this Mother, you know, says / am the best
sailor along the coast, and just as well able to
Judge when 10 go on a cruise as she is. Come.
sister, we can't get drowned, for the water is |
so shallow at eb6 tide, and with this west wind.
that We could wade anywhere about the cove |
thus persuaded, Jenny passed her basket to |
her brother, and then clambeTing into the boat
herself, she took her seat beside Annie in the /
stern sheets, and soon the launch was under
weigh.
She was great heavy, clumsy Soat-ss all
OF her class usually are, with single Iug sail
af haavu canraaa
s;iminate skill Tor so young a commander, and
they had made several stretches across the cove,
when, as they were passing the inlet that
opened out seaward, Annie's eyes rested upon
he bright blue waves sf the Atlantic, far out
beyond the discoloIed water along the coast,
and cIapping her hands with sudden eestaey
.,rrtafrna1 |
40, WIIhel Let Us go out there and sail on
that beautiful blue ocean Won't It be grand
So much prettier than this little dirty cove,
with the bare sand banks about Us
Willie sPrang to his feet, gazing to the otiDg'
bis bright eyes liz up with enthusiasm from his
sisters words, and replied:
well 90 out there and have glorious sail
Just like the great ships and steamboats, that
we see go by"
40, don't 90 out there, brother !" interposed
little Jenny, her cheek growing pale as the deli
cate lilly. Don't 60, Willei mother will be
angry with US
. Mother viii DO no such thing, Jenny She
will be proud of US to think that we have been
out on the ocean all alone / can easily come
back with the food tide that will be sOOn set
ting in " And without further argument, the
reckless boy put his helm up, eased oil the
sheet. and away AQl AA4l AAAA|Nf
the line Of blue water outside, went the launch,
hurried along before the strong breeze which
added 10 the strength of the last quarter ebb,
bore her away at the speed that soon sunk the
yellow ridge to q mere line along the margin Of
the wide ocean, and the white cottages and
Venetian blinds into toy houses dotted with
green speeks The colored vater-which APP
0eared from the cove only a narrow strip diyid-
ing the white from the deep azures of the ocean
into broad belt of several
miles in width. But with the fine breeze aud /
strong eutset of the tide the boat sped on
while the novelty of their position and the natu-
raj excitement induced BY It caused the time
and space 10 fy unheeded by the young voy-
ayers, and sudden dread came upon them, as,
having gained the blue water. they looked back
towards the shore and saw hills, fields and or
chards blending and growing indistinet, and
fading away in the distance There was
sense Of lonely, utter helplessness, shadowing /
their bright vision; and there was a word OF
pathos in little Jenny's sweet low voice, as she
laid her hand gently on her brother's arm, aud
looking up in his eyes, whispered
81, Willie, let US 90 hame, Mother would !
feel very bad it she knew We were way out
here"
Willie bent down and kissed his sisters pale
check, as he replied;
I'VE viii 60 back home, Jenny was
naughty to come off so far from land. But l
don't cry, sister; am sorry, Don't blame me;
/ couldn't help il. loved the sea too much"
No, We won't blame you, Willie; only let
US hurry back,-for see yOnder, black cloud
coming up in the west. and 1 am afraid il We DO
not"
The ehild's speech was arrested by groan
of anguish from her brother, whose eye for the
first time had been directed towards bank Of
dark, murky clouds heaving up in the western
horizon by his sisters remark, aad at the very
instant that the vision first rested upon the
black pail, chain of brilliant zigzag lightning
rose quivering along IFS upper edge, and few
moments later there came to their ears low
muttered roar OF far-off thunder.
The young captain had hauled his little ves-
sci By the wind, but the clumsy thing lay
broad under il-fitted sail Besides, the wind,
which che had scarcely felt while running of
before il had now increased so much that she
keeled over till there was great danger Of cap
sizing to prevent which, Willie, with the as
sistance OF his two sisters set out reefng the
sail
This was soon accomplished, and again the
boat was steered a. close as she would go
which at the best was little better than eight
points, so that with her great leeway, Willie
soon found that in spite OF his utmost skill, his
craft was drifting rapidly out TO sea.
Nearer and nearer rolled On the embatiled
legions of black storm clouds louder came the
fearful thunder crashes, more vived CLEANED
The red hghtninl's fash, wider the shrieking
gale swept by hoYling aud screaming dread
notes Of terror to the young yOyagers- The
in with the land was quite smooth
began to heave up the foam crested waves
here and there all around them, curling over
and breaking all feather white IN long lines of
Kissing spray Great round drops Of rain came