Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-24
THE NOBLE FISHERMAN.


whelm it. A woman, two children and a
sailor, were alone on board this fraiI vessel.
The woman, wrapped in large cloak, under
the shelter Of which she held her children to
her heart, alternately wept and prayed. The
sailor, having for a long time struggled
against the tempest, and endeavored i'll vain
to urge forward the shallop under his charge
had closed his arms on his breast, and wait
ed in sulen silence, the death which seemed
inevitable. Through the thick mist his prac-
tced eye at length saw hope
:" Land land !" lie shouted and, retaking
his oars, piled them with new vigor.
Vain His exhausted stregth could sur
mount no rebuff, even with apparent safety
in his reach. His struggle to gain the shore
seemed but to lengthen the distance between
the boat and the strand At length he again
abandoned the hopeless labor The quick
eye of the mother detected his purpose, as
he relieved his person of his heavier gar
ments
you will not abandon my children to per
ISL :? \" she cried, in agony.
The sailor looked wistfully at the unhappy
sufferers. He measured the distance to the
shore with his eye, and looked over the boats
side, to waters which, here partially sheltered,
seemed to boil and yeast as if in cauldron-
the receding tide combating the furious gale
possible. lie ventured on no word of conso-
laton, lest his mercy should master his iudg-
ment; but while the mother yet hoped
while she leaned forward with lips apart, and
eyes pressing from their sockets to catch
word, sigh, breath in answer-he cut
all short by suddenly diving into the sea-
The boat recled and shivcred under the
momentum given to it 10y the sailors plunge :;
but He who holds the waters in the hollow of
His hand, watched over the fOrsaken The
mother clasped the little ones yet closer to
her breast, and raised her eyes to heaven in
an agony Of prayer, too earnest to wait for
words. Her face spoke appeal from which
Abaddon's self could not have turned com
passionless. The wave, just about to over
whelm her, was broken on its crest by the
strange weight it bore, and, as the water
nearcd her, sullen, and unearthly sound
broke on her quick ear, and the spray which
flew across her face became blood-stained.
The dead body of the sailor who deserted her
bumped an instant against the boats side,
and then driitcd away from the sight of NOR
tai man forever. He had struck against the
sharp points of rocks beneath the surface,
and escaped II lingering death to which he
though he had left his companions by a sud
den plunge into the presence of his Maker
In another instant the deserted woman felt
Il strange sound beneath her feet. The boat
was grating on the sand. Another bound
and it was fast She sounded the water with
her arm, and, to her inexpressible Joy, found
solid earth In an instant she stepped from
the shallop, caught her infants in her arms,
and aimed for the beach, which seemed at a
little distance. The water deepened, as she
proceeded, to her waist-to her throat she
staggered, and the sitting, "bubbling cry 2"
of her children nerved her with new strength.
An almost superhuman spring, and she was
safe again. and anon she recoiled, us che earth
seemed to sink under her feet, and another
step would have plunged her into an abyss
in the very sight of safety. The agony of
fear the strength of despair, the lightning of
hope, each seized her by turns, until AT
length, in delirium of joy, she left the sea
behind her-having escaped its last engulf-
ing wavc-and, falling on her face in the
damp sand, she poured out her soul in graft
tude to God, who had delivered her and her
little cnes.
She rose, shuddering with cold, now that
the struggle was over. Her children, shud-
dering with terror, and sobbing in discomfort,
clung to her knees. The wind-as if heaven
had held it back until her escape-increased
in fury. Rain fell in torrents, and the waves
drowned the shore far above the point at
which she had first felt safety. Her eve wan
dered in vain for help the cold sky, the
lashing wave, the bleak rock, the barren
sand, Knocked the hope of the mother for
comfort or safety a reaction of feeling was
taking place-her heart was sinking within
her.
4 voice Again, and nearer A man up
on the rocks earnestly beckoning, as if some
new and imminent danger beset the fugitive
from death. She saw no more, but sank in
H., Ill,
cd piercing wall beside her. Unerring in
stinct They did not shrink SO when she
sank down to pray.
Another moment, and the man who shouted
the warning is beside the shipwrecked moth
err. His hardy wife attends him. She has
caught the children, each by shoulder, with
more strength than gentleness, though with
gentle purpose, and is scrambling up the
rocks. He bears the still insensible form of
the mother, and, as he ascends, his hat has
fallen behind him and is dancing in an eddy
of water over the very spot from which, an
instant before, he had caught his unconscious
burthen The tide, now at the flood, has
swept like an avalanche over the nook among
the rocks, and the fragments of the deserte d
boat are fretting among the craggy points of
that inhospitable shore.
In the cabin of the fisherman the mother
is soon restored to life. Her first thought is
for her children, whom she embraces again
and again, in perfect transport OF JOY. She
unclasps rich necklace from the bosom OF
her daughter.
'Take this gage of my gratitude" she ex
claims; "accept it as earnest, YOU to
whom | owe the life of my children"
The fisherman shook his head
81 have use for such riches" said he
''The products Of my labor suffice me- To
you this gold and these jewels will be mucl
more useful than TO me Retain them"
The mother took the hand Of her prcservcr
Young and beautiful even il the humble vest
ments which the hsherman's wife had substi
tuted for her rich and drabbled clothing, heI
air was full Of majesty.
''Thank you abe cried, "tbahk you
You are right. The service you have render
ed cannot be repaid with gold. sac God:
trust, will put it in my power 70 testify NJ.
gratitude IN a manner worthy Of you"
Your safety will be ample recon
pense, and we desire no other" said the fish
erman; and the honest face of his wife, light
ed with placid JOY, bore testimony to the same
sentiment.
"Tell me, my friends" the lady asked, af
ter pause, ION what coast has this misfor
tune thrown us ?"
''On that of Denmark
The mother wrung her hands in desnair
"Denmark I" she cried, ''then are nv chill
dren still lost, though they have survived tn,
perils Of the ocean !"
"While Finn and his wife live" said tn
fisherman, in an effort to console their unfor