Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-08-11

with the fine breeze and strong outset
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 speed to fly unheeded by the
young voyagers, and sudden dread
came upon them, having gained the
blue water, they looked back towards
the shore and saw hills, fields and or
chards blending and growing indis-
tinct, and fading away in the distance.
There was a sense oflonel y, utter help
Ilessness, ,shadowing their bright vision;
aud there was word Of pathOs in lit
tie Jenny's sweet low voice, as she laid
her hand gently on her brothers arm,
and looking up INTO bis eyes, Whisper
ed:
90, Willie, let US go home. Mother
would feel very bad if she knew we
were way out here"
"NVe will go back home, Jenny; |
was naughty to come off so far from
land. But don't cry, sister; [ am sor-
ry. Don't blame me; | couldn't help
it. | loved the sea too much"
"No, We won't blame you, Willie;
only let us hurry back,-for see yon-
der, black cloud coming up in the
west, and l am afraid if we do not
The child's speech was arrested by
a groan Of anguish from her brother,
whose eye for the first time had been
directed towards bank Of dark, muir
ky clouds heaving up in the western
horizon by his sisters remarks, and at
the very instant that the vision first
rested on the black pail, chain Of bril-
liant zigzag lightning rose quiyering
along its upper edge, and a few mo-
ments later there came TO their ears a
low muttered roar of far of thunder
The young captain had hauled his
little vessel by the wind, but the clum-
sy thing lay broadside under the lift
ted sail. Besides, the wind which she
had scarcely felt while running before
it had now increased so much that she
kceled over till there was much danger
of capsizing, to prevent which, Willie,
with the assistance Of his two sisters set
out reefing the soil.
This was soon accomplished, and
again the boat was Stcered as 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 rapidly drifting out to
sea.
Nearer and nearer rolled on the en-
battlcd lcgions OF black storm clouds:
louder came the fearful thunder crash
es, more vivid cleaned the red light
ning's flash, wider the shrieking gale
swept by bowling and screaming dread
notes Of terror to the young yoyagcrs.
The water-,which in the land was quite
smooth-began to heaye up the foam
crested waves here and there all around
them, curling over and breaking all
feather white i'll long lines Of Kissing
spray. Great round drops ofrain came
pattering down in the water and pelting
on the thwarts and gunwales Of the
boat with sharp, clicking noise, that
smote startingly dismal Oh the ears Of
the three little ocean wanderers.
Young, as he was, Willie retained in
his mind much Of what he had heard
his father relate at various times, in re-
gard to the management Of ship in a
gale; and the knowledge he had thus
gained in theory, now stood in good
stead. lie had heard Of keeping a
ship before the wind i'll a sQuaIl, and
Of scudding in gale-the duh sailing,
clumsy boat was his ship. The theo-
ry which he had learned he proceeded
to put in practice; and when the first
gust Of the pc.ting tornado fell upnu
the launch, she was going dead before
the wind--otherwise the sail would
have been snapped in an instant. AS
it was, she went flashing on through
the wild storm and screaming surgos,
scudding away right-out in that nigh
ty wild rnesS ct waters.
Tea, fifteen minutes went By, and
still the war Of the elements continued
in their terrible fury, and still the brave
little fellow stood at the helm, bare
headed, bis cap blown away, his clothes
dripping with water, and steady to his
purpose, stored his bark on the way
before the fierce howling blast
Once, only, he falterGd, and that was
when the launch quiyered a moment,
Oh the crest Of mighty surge, and then
went reeling and plungiug, standing al
most on end, down into the kissing vor-
tex Of the liquid rayine. Then q sin
gle quick cry Of horror escaped the
boys lips; bus the next moment jenny
crcpt up to his side and laid her hand
upon his shoulder and spoke i'll n low
soothing tone, and almost instantly call,
cd back his confidence; and clicted
from his lips cry Of admiration for
his sisters heroiSn.
Don't be frightened, dear WilIie,' y
spoke the little angel. "Mother says
God watches over the people that live
on the seas. And don't you remember
brother, how often our dear mother has
told us that Jesus loves litQe children
| IF Cod watches MS and ,jpsus loves lis