Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-11
mad By his danger, and was struggling with


the only man who could save him.
For full five minutes they wrestled to-
gether. Sometimes we thought Of pulling Ned
up, and so making sure of him; for twas q
hard choice between that poor demented
stranger and Ned's young wife and three little
more, and We saw Ned had him down with his
knee on his chest, and we knew IL the tide
gave him time he was his master. So II proved.
He whipped q turn or two Of rope around his
arms, and catching him tight to him with his
left. he gave the signal to haul away.
They had barely left the rock-for we
pulled easy at frst-when the whole keelson
Of the vessel was thrown against the place they
had stood on. We had them in our lift, how
ever, and if the weight had been twice as much
it would have come to grass if the ropes held.
We were all too busy drawing them mp to
look 70 see what happened on the way. hold
it as Bible truth that there's scarce another
man but Ned would have brought that sailor
up. He had, as have said, one arm round
him, and, with the other, warded himself from
the sharp face Of the cliff, but he had some
grevious bruises for all his courage and strength
When the man found himself lifted up in
that strange way he got more raviDg than
ever, and finding he could not use his hands,
he fixed his teeth in Ned's cheek till they
met. For all the pain and danger Ned held
on, and shall never forget to my last hour
of the cliff, and knew they were safe
Poor Ned, We laid him in a sheltered
place, and would have put the stranger with
him, but We soon found he was too wild to be
trusted free, SO we bound him for his own
safety.
I'm few minutes after they were landed
Ned's wife came. We had sent boy for some
spirits and things, and he, youngster like, told
what Ned was about. None that were there
will ever forget that fair young thing as she
fell on her knees by her husbands side, and
swooned away with her head on his breast.
Ah, the man that had just braved such
danger wept like child, as he smoothed the
golden hair of his wife.
" As weak as a child he was, too, from loss
of blood. Well, other women came soon after
and bound up their hurts, and we got a cart
and brought them down to my house.
Eleven men and three boys were the crew
of the Hesperus, as the ship was called, and
only that one man saved He lay for days
very quiet at last-and scarce spoke a word
What he did say was about his mother, and
the name Of some young woman. When we
stripped him-by the Doctors orders-we
found little packet hung round his neck by
black riband, and as 1t was wet with the
salt water, We took it away to dry. My wife,
who tended him more than the rest, said he
seemed to keep grasping for something in his
bosom, so she put it back round his neck again:
and when he found it there all right, he never
strOye to rise and call out as he did before 1t
Is not for me to say, but my old woman always
considered that packet to hold some true love
token. She often said she wished she knew,
for she thought how glad his mother and
sweetheart would be to know he was alive.
"Weli, he went on in that strange way nigh
on three weeks, and We did not know so much
as the name of the sick man. Just as Ned was
going about again all well, we thought the
sight of him might bring the stranger to his
recollections. So Ned went and sat by the
bedside till he woke. 1t was getting. near
Christmas, and We wanted the poor man to be
we'll enough to enjoy the time with us. When
he opened his eyes Ned held out his hand, and
says he
"' Give you Joy, comrade. Ay, see you'll
be more than a match for me the next turn we
have, particular when tits grass we stand on ,
"With that the tears came into his poor dim
eyes, and catching Ned's hand he said
81 remember now. Were none saved but
me-?
"Ned was fearful to tell the truth, in case it
might make him worse, so he Just laughed and
said
You've been SO long sleeping off the effects
Of your wetting, that they're ali gone and left
you. But tits time we know'd your name,
stranger, if it please you to tell
"' Gascoigne, he ssid-'Richsrd Gascoigne.
"'How should we,' says Ned, when we did
not know where she lived?'
with that he got up to come away, for he
was afraid If he stayed he'd tell himself out
about his shipmstes, only three of whose bodies
we evee found
"He'd just got to the door when the Door
man wanted him to come back, but before he
could turn about the parson came into the
room and Ned got away.
a 4 ,Ior e.
but always believe to this day that the you ng
man was no common sailor.
The parsOn used to come and sit with hi m
for hours together, and fine lot of letters they
wrote between them. But we were never the
wiser for any of their scholarship-doings but
In one thing, and that won't be forgot round
here for many's the long day.
"The Christmas day we were all standing
about the church door, shaking hands and
wishing each other q merry Christmas and a
happy New Year, when the little gate that
led from the parsonage lawn into the church
yard was opened, and lady came among us,
80 beautiful dressed and so beautiful herself
that We all stopped talking to look at her.
I'm before my story, though, for should
the parsonage as soon as he could be moved.
"Well, the lady came right forward into the
midst Of the crowd, and she said
"t Which Of all you brave, kind men is Ed
ward Smeeth p
Ned was just behind me, and seemed ready
to stink away; but pushed him fore, and
If it please your ladyship, that's him.
"Well, Ned know'd manners too well to run
away then, 90 there he stood, blushing like q
girl.
The lady took his hand, and seemed going
to make speech; but she had only Just begun
her thanks when her heart rose in her throat,
and the tears stood in her eyes, and she only
said God bless you,' and put little box and
purse into Ned's hand, and then kissed his
great rough hand as If t been baby's face.
Ned seemed struck all of heap. He looked
at the things she had given him, and turned
his hand as II he expected to see a mark where
her beautiful lips had touched.
We'll, as the lady could not speak for her
self, the parson mp and told US all the sense of
Il. How that there was grand place up to
London, with great many grand people that
subscribed among them to reward them that
saved life. :
"' And proud says the parson, proud I
am that such token has come into nv
parish
''He said many kind and good words and