The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-03-27

Ut1SHt VISIONS ana tilorc was WUru OIL
pathos i'll little Jenny's low voice, as she
laid her hand gently on her brothers
arm, and looking up in his eyes whis-
percd
go, Willie, let US 60 home. Mother
would feel very sorry if she knew we had
come away out here so far
Willie bent down and kissed his sis
ter's pale check, as lie replied
owe will 60 back, Jenny l was
naughty to come off SO far from land. -
But don't cry, sister. | am sorry
Don't blame me, | couldn't help it; l
! loved the sea too much"
" No, we don't blame you, Willie :
only let US hurry back for see yondcr
is a black cloud coming up in the west ;
aud am afraid if we do not hurry home
We"
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 murky clouds
heaying up in the western board, by his
sisters remark, and at the very instant
that the vision first rested upon the
black pail, chain OF brilliant zigzag
lightning arose, quivering along its up
per edge, and few moments later, there
came to their ears low muttered
thunder.
The young captain had hauled his lit
tie vessel by the wind, but the clumsy
thing lay broad off under ill-fttcd sail.
Besides, the wind which she had scarcely
felt while running off before it, had now
increased so much that she keeled over
till there was great danger Of her cap
cizing, to prevent which Willie, with the
assistance of his two sisters, set about
reefng the sail.
This was soon accomplished, and again
the boat was steered as close as she
would 20, which at the best was still
better than eight points, so that with her
great lecway, Willie soon found that in
spite of his utmost skill, his craft was
drifting rapidly out to sea.
Nearer and nearer rolled on the en-
battled legions Of black storm clouds !;
louder came the fearful thunder crashes,
more vivid cleaned the red lightning's
fash, wilder the shricking gale swept by,
bowling and scearming dread notes of
terror to the young voyagers. The
water-which 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 feathcr-white in long lines Of Kissing
spray. Great round drops of rain came
patting down in the water, and pelting
on the thwarts and gun wales Of the boat
with sharp, click noise, that smote
startingly dismal on the ears Of the three
little ocean wanderers.
Young as he was, Willie retained iu
his mind much of what he had heard his
father relate various times, in regard
to the management of a ship in a gale !;
and the knowledge he had thus gained
in theory, now stood in good stead
He had heard Of keeping a ship before the
wind in squall, and Of scudding in a
gale-the dull sailing, clumsy boat was
his. ship. The theory which he had
learned he proceeded TO put in practice !;
and when the first mad gust of the Yell
ing tornado fell on the launch, she was
going dead before the wind--otherwise
her sail would have been blown away, or
she would have been swampcd in an
instant. AS it was, she went lashing
on through the wild storm and scream
ing surges, scudding away right out into
the mighty wilderness of waters.
Ten, fifteen minutes went by, and still
the war of the elements went on in their
terrible fury and still the brave little
fellow stood at the helm, headed,
his cap blown away, his clothes dripping
with water, and steady to his purpose,
steered his tiny bark on away, before
the fierce bowling blast.
Once only he taltered and that was
when the launch quivering for moment
on the crest of a mighty surge, and then
went reeling and plunging, standing al
most on end, down in the kissing vortex
or liquid ravinc. Then, single quick
cry of horror escaped the boys lips ; but
the next moment Jenny crcpt up to his
side and laid her hand upon his shoulder
and spoke i'll low soothing tone, and
almost instantly called back his conf
dence, and ELECTED from his lips cry of
admir- alton for his sisters heroism.
e" Don't be frightened, dear Willie"
spoke the little angel. " Mother says
chat God watches over people that live
on the seas. Aud don't you remember,
brother, how often our dear mother has
told US that Jesus loves little children I?
If God watches us and Jesus loves us,
VIC shall be safe. So don't be afraid"
Night--dark, wild and gloomy night
came down upon the world of waters, and
still the terrible tornado ragged in all its
horrors of wild lightning, rain and thun-
der; and there, in the frail open boat,
we will leave the hapless young voyagers
speeding ON and away, right out into
the very heart of the Atlantic ocean.
We will bid them adieu and glance back
to their home--to their fond mother,
rendered desolatc in heart by the dread
calamity that had fallen upon her in the
loss of her children.
At the moment when the children
first embarked Mrs. Walton had glanced
out toward the cove, and for few mo-
ments watched them with all mothers
fond delight as she saw them sailing to
and fro ON the quiet waters of the bay !;