Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-08-06

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we've been out on the ocean all alone. /
can easily come back with the food tide
that will soon be settling in
And without further argument, the
reckless boy put up his helm, eased off
the sheet and away through the inlet,
towards the line of blue-water outside,
went the launch, hurried along before
the stong breeze which added to the
strength Of the last quarter ebb, bore her
away with a speed that soon sunk the
yellow ridge to a mere line along the
margin of the wide ocean, and the white
cottages with Venetian blinds, into toy
hosses dotted with green specks. The
cOlored water-which appeared from the
cove only narrow strip dividing the
white strip from the deep azure Of the
ocean beyond-expanded into a 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 pos ition, and the natural excite
ment induced by it, caused the time and
space to fly unheeded by the young voy-
ayers, and a sudden dread came upon
them. as having gained the blue water,
they looked back towards the shore and
saw hills, fields, houses and orchards,
blending and growing indistiuct, and fad
ing away in the distance. There was a
sense of lonely, utter helples8ness, sud
den shadowing their bright vision and
there was a world of pathos in little Jen-
ny's sweet low voice, as she laid her hand
gently on her brothers arm, and looking
up in 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 and kissed his sis
ter's pale cheek, as he replied:
we viii go back home, Jenny wa:
naughty to come off so far from land
But don't cry, sister. I am sorry. Don'
blame me, I IcouIdn't help it 1 loved the
sea too much
No, we won't blame you, Willie, only
let US hurry back for see yonder is I
cloud coming up in the west, and In
afraid if We DO cot
The childs speech was arrested by ;
groan Of anguish from her brother, who's,
eye for the first time had been directed
towards bank of dark, murky cloud
heaving up in the west, by his sister
remark and at the very instant his Vi
sion first rested upon the black pail, {
chain Of brilliant zig gag lightning ros e
quiveriug along its upper edge, and
few moments later, there came to thei
ears a low muttering roar of far o1
thunder.
The young captain had hauled his lit
tie vessel by the wind, but the cIums.
thing lay broad off under the Ill fttin,
sail. Besides the wind which had scar
cely felt while running On before it, ha
now increased so much that she heele
over till there was great danger Of he
capsizing, to prevent which, Willie, witt
the assistance Of his two sisters, set abou
reefing the sail.
This was soon accomplished, and agai
the boat was steered as close as sh
would 90, which at the best was IttI
better than light points, so that with he
great leeway, Willie soon found that i
: spite of his utmost skill, his craft wa
r rapidly drifting out to sea.
> Nearer and nearer rolled on the en-
L battled Iegions Of the black storm cloud
= louder came the fearful thunder crashe
more vivid cleaned the red lightning
- flash, wilder the shrieking gale sweI
" by, bowling, screaming dread notes
terror to the young voyagers. The W.
ter, which IN with the land was quit
smooth, began to heave up the foal
II crested waves here and there all aroun
q :, them, curling over and breaking all featI
- er-white in long lines Of kissing spra,
y Great round drops of rain came pate
ID ing down on the water and pelting on tt
N thwart and gunwales Of the boat with
c, sharp clickering noise that smote star
e ling dismal On the ears of the three Ii
tn tie ocean wanderers.
l. Young as he was, Willie retained
his mind much of what he had heard b
ut father relate at various times, in regal
le to the management of a ship in a gall
h and the knowledge he had thus gains
h in theory, now stood him in good stea
He had heard Of keeping a ship befo
e the wind in a squal, and Of scuding
.h "a gale. The dull sailing, clumsy be
5 was his ship. The theory which he L
learned he proceeded to put in practic
i and when the first mad gust Of the y,