Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-08-18
/" Stop Her! stop Her ~
9 ny VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.

by VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.
Itwas terrible gale, though which the
good steamer plowed her path away out on
the broad Atlantic. The heavy clouds
coursed Ike gray wOolens the face of the
sky. the great waves rushed and; thuudred
atsthe yessel, and clutched and struck, at
her, with their fierce hands, and dashed
over her decks the salt spray of their wrath
ana rocked her TO and fro--the stately
steamer, asshe struggled ownward with the
Winds and the waves leagued together for
her death. The dinner was over, few Of
the oraVest OF the passengers-1determine
to,iaee all canger for the sake Of witDess-
lng that sublime spectacle, storm at sea
were pfuueing-aud tumbiing their way
up the stairs to the deck, when enc Of
these suddenly stood still, every nerve
thrilled with the awful terror of the words
which bad smote his ear from the lips Of
the chief ofieer-that cry which is the
most significant Of danger and death oe any
words that can be uttered on board a shin
Stop herl Stop herP The command
rang like clarion above the hoarse fury
OF the blast-above the awful tumult Of the
waves. The captain caught the SOUND,
and the next moment, swift and sudden
as lightDiDg he rushed past his appalled,
passenger. his white face only betrayirg
the dread at his heart.
Was an iceberg sailing down upon
them--a vast white mountain ready to
grind and crush, and bury the doomed
vessel under her cold feet? Had the fair
steamer, which had set her face so proud. .
ly toward the west, sprung a sudden leak,
and must the anxious freight of hearts she
carries, 60 down at last under those hung
ry waves and must the eyes that watched
and waited for the beloved at home, grow
dim with weeping for those who came
not p l.-. -sy. -f.-.. ...... .......-
Stop her Stop herp ......
The swift thoughts-the terrible fears
gave new courage to the passenger who
was cropping his way to the deck. and al
most as soon as the captain mounted it, the
former was at bis side. Their eyes swept
the wide, heaying ocean, and on the right
they beheidsix men struggling and bat.
thing for lie with those mad waves. six
men suddenly swept overheard In mo-
meDt boat was lowered. 1t did not seem
possible that she could live in that awful
sea; but there were plenty brave hearts on
board to risk the lives OF their brothers,
and in moment; manned by stalwart
hearts, she put off
Then came the longer hope, and fear,
and waiting on board the steamer-the
strainirg ct eyes through the storm for the
sight Of the little boat struggling her way
toward the drowning men. Atlast she was
seen returning. The passengers gathered
IN GREATNESS crowd to watch her, and
count the number Of these rescued. There
were four in the boat-there had been six
overheard. -
One old man; his hair snow white with
the wiz ter Of his years, pressed forward
his son was among the missing. The old
mans face was white as his sons was
whether 1t lay unconscious in the boat, had
gone down IN the triumphant waves. The
old father leaned over and searched the
faces In the boat. They were four, but
the one for which he sought was not there!
My boy is lost = cried the old man, in a
tone that made the heart of every passen-
ger stand still, SO full was it of human loss
and anguish. All alone now the old man
must make his way to the new strange
country, WHITTIER be and bis son were going
together--whither the brave heart and tie
strong arm had lured the old and feeble
one, i'll the hope of building up new for
tune; and this was all the tidings he had to
send now to the loving mother, who sat
waiting and full of tremulous tenderness
at home+this was all to the fair young
sister, who had sent out her last farewell
on sOb,--'Our dear boy is lostp
Dear children, whose young eyes may
be wet with pity for the broken-hearted
old man, this story is not all Of my fancy.
/ had its principal facts from the lips of
the passenger who witnessed that fathers
anguish over his boy that was, and is not,
andI have written it for you here with
this still Jure afternoon leaning towards
the night, with the soft. furrowed clouds
folding away the fair face Uf the spring
sky. .-.-..- 81. ...........
Stop her Stop her y Never on board
some steamer blowing her path through
the storm, may you hear that cry. But oh,
on another sea, where Rave oft gone down
many aud princely freights, there will as.
sail you terrible storms of wind and wave !
. Stop heri Stop her = In the gale of pas
sion and the storms of life may your soul
learn the meaning and majesty Of that
calf
Stop herl Stop her If the breakers
are ahesd-ifthe rocks lie before-if the
path 90 which you are going is in anywise
the Path of sin, the way of death, -.
Be vigilant, be prompt on the broad At
lantic of your life, for there the winds may
rise and rains beat and where loss and
ruin lie before the path, of your fair and
stately ship. Stop herP-Arthur:s Nag
dziae, - no. u8~- -'l-a ts-.