The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-04-08


There was a deep sense OF lonely, utter
hoPelessness, shadoWing suddenly, their
bright vision, and there was q world Of pa.
thos In little Jenny's low voice, as she laid
her head gently on her brothers arm, and
looking up 10 his eyes whispered: .- .5
"Oh, Willie, let us 90 home. Mother
would feel very sorry if she knew we were
away out here 50 far" .........
Willie bent down and kissed her cheek as
he replied: .o 4.s.-s .-.'-ss-..s s.. .
1--WE will 60 back, Jenny; twas naughty
to come offs far from land. But dent cry
sister. ] am sorry. Don't blame me,
couldn't help it; love the sea so much.
mo, we won't blame you, Willie; only
let US hurry backi for see, yonder Is black
cloud coming up in the west, and an
afraid If we don't hurry home we"
The child's speech was arrested by q
groun of anguish from her brother, whose
eyes for the fret time had been directed
towards q bunk of dark, murky clouds,
heuving up in the western sky, BY his els
ter's remark, and at the very moment tha,
his vision frat rested upon the black pail, .
chain Of brilliant zig gag lightning rose,
quivering along ito upper edge uRd few
moments later there catie to their ears q
low muttered thunder.
The voting tuptaih had haulsd bis little
vessel by the wind, but the clumsy thing
lay broad of under i'll fitted sail. Besides,
, the wind, which she had scarcely felt while
running of before il, had now increased so
much that she keeled over till there was
much danger Of her capsizing, to prevent
which, Willie, with the assistance of his
two sisters. set about reftting the sail.
This was soon accomplished and again
the boat was steered as close as she would
go, which at the best was little more than
eight points, so that with her great lee way,
Willie soon found, that In spite Of bis ut.
most skill. his craft was drifting rapidly Out
to sea.
Nearer and nearer rolled on the embat
tied legivrs Of Black storm rloudsI louder
came the fearful thunder crashes, mu.e vi,
vid CLEANED the red lightning's fash. wild
the screaming gales swept by, bowling and
shrieking dread notes of terror to the young
voyagers. The water--which in with the
lard was quite .smooth--began to heave up
in fouth.crested waves here and there all
around them, curling over and breaking oil
featherwhite in long Kissing spray. Great
round drops Of rain cuthe pat,ing down in
the water, and pelting on the thwarts and
gunwules of the boat with sharp, clicking
noise, that sit,ote etnttingIy dismal dE the
eGrs Of the three little wanderers.
Young as he was. Willie retained in his
mind much Of what he had heard his father
relnte OF various times, in regard to the
management of ship in q galej and the
knowledge he had thus gained in theory
now stood in good stead. He had heard OF
keeping ship before the wind in squall,
and Of scudding in d gaIe&-tfe dIll sailing,
clumsy boat was his ship. The theory he
had learned he proceeded TO put in practice;
and when the FIRST mad gust Of the yelling
tornado fell upon the launch, she was goint
dead before the wind d57,-otherwiss her sail
would have blown away, Or she ,wodld have
been swomped In On instspt. rs it was sic
was flashing on through the wild storm and
scfeaming surgesi scudding away right ou'
into the mighty waters. ;, ~
Ten, fifteen minutes went BY, and still
the war Of the elements went on in their
terrible fury; and still the brave little fell
low stood at the helm, bare headed, his. cap
blown away, his clothes dripping with wa
ter, and steady to his purpose, 6teerea ki'
tiny bark ON and away before the fierce
bowling blast. s, 4.v. .3 ..oarl .. .
Once only he faltered, snd that was wher
the launch quivered on the erest Of mighty
surge, and then went reeling and plunging
standing almost on end, down in kissing vor
tex Of the liquid ravine Then q single CT,
Of horror escaped the boys lipsi but the
next moment Jenny crept up to his side enc
laid her hand upon his shoulder, asd spoke
in law soothing tones that almost instantly
called back his confidence. and ELECTED from
his lips cry Of admiration for his sister,
heroism. ae 81 80 ,is#as'E. s@5 Ga
= "Don't be frightened, dear Willie" spoke
the little spgel, "Mosher says that Coz
watches over people that live on the seas
And don't you remember, brother. how Of
ten our dear mother has told us that Jesu'
loves little ehildren! r. God watches VI
and Jesus loves Us we shall be safe. So d.
not be afraid" y 9 .-arurasr
Night--durk, wild and gloomy night
came down upon the world Of waters, AM
still the terrible tornado ragged In oil its hor
rors OF wind. lightniDg, rain and thunder; AM
there, in the frail open boat, We will lsav'
i the hspless young voyagers speeding on
and away right ou. into the heart Of tbs Al
lIsntic! ocean. We will bid them adieu sn'
6lsnce back to their home--to theft font
mother, rendered desolats in heart BY III
dread calsmity that had fallen upon her u
the loss Of her children. i.ge, E.aa,g .g
/ AT the moment when the children. 6rs
embarked, Mrs. Walton bad slanced out in
u t Il ls.4 v .sf Al sgg g.sa