The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-08-29


asked them both to step down into the cab
in. Then, turning TO the passenger, he said,
81 hope, sir, you will not think l am trif-
ling with you but would be much oblig-
ed to you if you would write a few words
on this slate" And ne handed him the
slate, with that side up on which the mys-
terious writing was not. 81 will do any
thing you ask, replied the passenger; "but
what shall write q'
ga few words are all | want. Suppose
you write, Steer TO the nor west.'"
The passenger, evidently puzzled TO make
out the motive for such request, complied,
however, with smile. The captain took
up the slate and examined it closely, then,
stepping aside so as to conceal the slate
from the passenger, he turned it over and
gave it TO him again with the other side up.
"You say that is your handwriting" said
he.
81 need not say So" Fejoined the other
looking at it, for you saw me write it.'
"And this f' said the captain, turning
the slate over.
The man looked first at one writing, then
at the other, quite confounded. At last,
s'What is the meaning of this ?' said he. "I
only wrote one of those. Who wrote the
Other ~
"That's more than can tell you, sir My
mate here says you wrote it, sitting at this
desk, at noon to-day"
Tie captain of the wreck and the passen.
ger looked at each other, exchanging CLAN
ces of intelligence and surprise and the
former asked the latter, "Did you dream
that you wrote on this slate 2"
s'No, sir, not that remember"
"You speak of dreaming" said the cap
tain of the barque "Whai was This gentle
man about al noon to-day"
Captain rejoined the other, "the whole
thing is most mysterious and extraordinary;
and had intended TO speak to you about
it as soon as we got little quiet. This gen.
tleman," (poiniing TO The passenger,) "be-
ing much exhausted, fell into heavy sleep
or villa. seemed such, some time before
noon. After an hour or more he awoke,
and said TO me, Captain, we shall be re-
lieved this very day. When l asked him
what reason he had for saying SO, be replied
that he had dreamed that he was on board
a barque, and that she was coming 10 our
rescue. He described her appearance and
rig and, to our utter astonishment, when
your vessel hove in sight, she corresponded
exactly TO his description of her. We had
not much faith in what he said; but still
we hoped there might be something in 1t,
for drowning men, you know, will catch at
straws. AS it has turned out, | cannot
doubt that it was all arranged, in some in
comprehensive way, by an overriding
Providence, so that we might be saved To
Him be all thanks for His goodness 10 us"
s'There is no doubt,n reioined the other
captain, 'that The writing on the slate, let
it come there as it may, saved all yourives.
| was steering at the time considerably
south of west, and altered my course nor
west, and had lookout aloft, to see what
would come of it. But you say" he added,
turning 10 the passenger, 'that you did not
dream of writing on slate"
"No sir. | have no recollection whatever
of doing so. | got the impression that the
barque saw in my dream was coming TO
rescue us; but hotU that impression came
cannot tell. There is another very strange
thing about it," he added. Everything
here on board seems to me quite familiar
Yet am very sure never was on your ves-
sci before. 1t is all puzzle TO me. What
did your male see 2"
Thereupon MIR. Bruce related to them all
the circumstances above detailed. The con-
clusion they finally arrived at was, that it
was special interposition of Providence TO
save them from what seemed hopeless
fate.
The above narrative was communicated
to me by Captain J. S. Clarke, of the schoon-
er Julia Hallock, who had it directly from
Mr.. Bruce himself. They sailed together
for seventeen months, in the years 1885
and '37; so that Captain Clarke had the story
from the mate about eight years after the
occurrence. He has since lost sight of him,
and does not know whether he is yet alive.
All he has heard of him since they were
shipmates is, that be continued to trade to
New Brunswick, that he became the master
of the brig Comet and that she was lost"
asked Cap. Clark il be knew Bruce well,
and what sort of man he was.
"As truthful aad straightforward a man."
he replied, "as ever met in all my life
We were as intimate as brothers and two
men can not be together, shut up for seven
teen months in the same ship, without get
ting TO know whether they can trust one
anolher's word or not. He always spoke of
the circumstances in terms of reverence, as
of an incident that seemed to bring him
nearer to God and to another world. I'd
stake my life upon it that he told me no lie.