Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-11-26

chance of life ; and what that was will /
appear before long. could not sleep,
and yet towards morning / fell into
doze, from which / was reused by a /
frightful dream of wild storm, and all
my little ones swallowed up in the vor-
tex of the sea, and none to save them.
Next day went on deck. and en-
j deavored to behave as though ignorant of
everything; ii was hard task, for was
never used to deceit. watched narrow
ly everything that took place, and know
ing what did, saw but too plainly con-
. firmation of what | had heard in the anx-
ious, dogged looks of the crew. / heard
the noise of the pumps going continually.
t though / could not see them. About
, nine o'clock II came on rain, and rained
the whole of the day so hard, that few of
: the emigrants came on deck, and those
7 only for a short time. The rain was
accompanied by a thick mist, which
f bounded our view TO a miles circuit at
1 most. had noticed that signal hutter-
: ed on the mast, which l had no doubt
0 was a distress-signal; but what chance
t was there of its being seen in the thick
e rain-mist ? There was a brass gun on
: deck, and about noon the captain gave
t orders to have it scaled and cleared up
' by one of the boys. 1t was fred several
1t times, and the report brought up lot Of
Il the idle fellows, who clamored for more
/ discharges, which the captain, as if to
. crafty them, allowed. l knew well
.e enough that these also were signals Of
1t distress; but they were not heard, and
/ the day passed away, and nothing hove
4 in sight.
,r About half-an-hour before sunset
,e the mist blew of, the clouds dispersed
q and the whole sea-view was again clear
G to the horizon on all sides. 1 watched
the faces of the crew as they looked anx
,n iously round the mate himself ran tt
re- the masthead with telescope, and re
re mained there till the sun had sunk, an,
- only long streak of yellow light sh on,
90 in that direction. The fine evening hac
i brought all the passengers on deck, anc
~ they were inclined to dance and be mer
n. ry. All my little ones, too, ran out int,
90 the sunshine, and gamboled playful
; among the cordage. 1t made my hear
r. break to look at them. My wife wa
he about calling them in to put them to bed
~ then it was that I beckoned her into th
- cabin and shut the door. l took bot
u her hands in mine. and looking her sol
= rowfully and solemnly in the face said
= Betsy, my loving wife, can you, ft
the dear children's sake, Danish all W.
= mans fears and weaknesses, and be fri
to act as I shall bid you?
:" 1t was not so much the words as th
; l tone of my voice which made her shrin
~ back, and, in manner, gasp for breatt
W. but she recovered herself with a gre
'sh effort.
ord john she replied, 4 knew it;
e L have known all day there was somethir
md dreadful on your mind. Let me sha
ms it have a rightto share it /; with Coz
yht, help can and will bear it-indeed
P of deed, you shall not have to reproach T
OF with weakness
an " 1t is well, [ said; remember WI
'me you have promised. and that the lives
sed all you love may depend upon your kee
sal- ing your word
the Il then told her the dreadful tidin.
L and how the knowledge had come IL
2 at my possession. She heard the wac
car with more fortitude than had expecte
ut but she turned stone-coIor at my wor
and and from the caImness with which :
'uld spoke afterwards, you might have thou:
thin her heart had turned into stone.
rse, What are we to do, John 2 Y
and obey you in all things. Is there q
oats hope of life? Ny children! my ci
by drenP
ow- " Remember said, not word
at grief or complaint, lest you destroy v
act. little hope there is. Trust in Providen
heir and do what tell you
N TO Il then gave her directions-frst.
ex- put the children to bed without undre
e, in ing them; then with the help Of
con- niece, to pack up some small parcels
GER preserved meat and sweet biscuits, Z
from to have outer clothing ready for the c
ard, dren at a moments notice. gave
still as much to do asl could think Of, to k
her mind from running on the horror
my our situation, which, as the crisis d
bank near, were hardly suPporiable to my
settle / then went on deck, sent the gil
loing With the children, and walked up
,ht il down with my eyes vide open. /