, 1864-04-30

selves in rapid succession on and over the
devoted vessel, burying her in their bosoms,
and bearing everything before them in their
onward career. Nothing that had life in
it could now exist for an instant on board
that unfortunate ship, even suppose it could
have kept its hold and footing on her deck
which were impossible--as, from her
sinking sideways in the sand, the former
sloped at an angle Of nearly forty-fve de-
grc"s.
"Anxious, most anxious were the people
to render the miserable sufferers assistance;
but they could do little. They had no boat;
and, indeed, no boat could hare lived
moment in the tremendous surf that was
then breaking on the shore. Nothing could
they do, then, but watch on the beach, to
see whether the waves would bring any Of
the ill-fated crew to the shore in whom
there might still be life. But they looked
in vain for any such occurrence as this.
The waves would give up none of their
victims At length, however, they saw a
human head, peering, now and then, above
the white foam of the sea, and advancing
and reccding with the approaching and re-
firing waves.
"Satisfed, after moments observation,
that the object they saw was indeed the
head of human being, some bold fellow,
watching an opportunity, rushed into the
water close by the floating object, caught
the breast Of mans coat, and, by an cx-
ertion Of superhuman strength, the result
of the excitement Of the moment, dragged
him to the shore. He was brought to my
manse. The body exhibited no pcrecpti-
bic signs Of life; but, on tearing open the
waistcoat, and placing my hand on the heart,
! felt it feebly beating. l had soon the
satisfaction Of seeing success attend our ci-
forts. The unfortunate sufferer began to
breathe audibly, though, for time, by ir-
regular and convulsive respirations. Sat
isRed that lie was now in fair way Of re-
coyery, !, after lcaying some instructions
with my wife as to the management Of her
patient during my absence, hastened again
to the beach to see whether could not find
any other object on which to exercise my
humanity. But there were none; not one.
All had persisted; and, of the unfortunate
vessel herself, no trace remained but in
the loose spars and rigging with which the
shore was strewed. The hull had entirely
disappeared.
"0n returning home, | found my patient,
though still in feeble and exhausted state,
so far recovered as to be sitting in an arm
chair before the fire, and able TO give some
account Of himself This account stated
that he was foreigner, which, indeed, his
Language at once discovered, although he
spoke English with tolerable Auency.
That he was passenger in the ship which
had Just been wrecked, and that ho was on
his way to England on mercantile specu-
latiOn. This was the substance Of all that
the stranger chose to communicate, and no.
thing farther regarding him was asked.
"For several days, | and my wife show
cd the unfortunate man every attention in
our power. We tended hin day and night;
for, during all this time, he continued in a
very weakly condition, aud, SO far from any
improvement taking place beyond the point
Of convalescence he had attained immedi-
ately after his resuscitation, he seemed to
be retrograding-to be sinking daily under
the exhaustion which his late accident had
induced. He became feverish, and his
slumbers were disturbed, apparently, BY
frightful dreams; the last natural cor.se.
quence, as his beneflctors thought. Of the
perils he had just escaped. But we could
not help perceiving, at the saD;e time, that
the unconneoted sentences he muttered
during his sleep oftener bore reference to
other matters than hi' shipwreck, although
this last was occasionally alluded to, in the
rawlings Of the sufferer.
"What these other matters were, how.
ever, neither l nor my wifo could at all
make out; but il was evident they were
things that pressed heavily on the mind of
the unfortunate man. In tho meantime,
he gradually became weaker and weaker,
until it was evident that he had not long to
live Becoming sensible of this himself,
tho dying man asked If there was any
Clergyman in the neighborhood who would
visit him. s
al told him, what he had not yet been
informed Of, that was clergyman.
- would wish, said he, TO speak one
private word with you, sir, before you shall
speak to me on religious subjects
+" Surely, surely, my good friend, re-
Piled I. @ flsssl n
sSit down close by me, my good SIR
said the dying man, 'and will tell you
something that presses heavily on my
mind NE
al having taken a seat as desired, the
sufferer went on: s5sl .sa
About two years ago, was mer-
chant in Bhurtpore, in the East Indies. I
was in partnership with Scotchman Of the
name Of M'Allister. His father lives some
where about Cantyre. We were doing very
well, and were making money fast, whom
the devil put il into my head to turn seoun-
drel. When my partnerwas up the country,
sold off all the goods, put the money in
my pocket, and ran away, and ruined my
poor partner. Now, my good sir, this is
the thing that troubles me; that makes me
fear TO de-
1t was, indeed, said /, "a very repre-
hcnsible act; but your present contrition is
some atonement; and, trust, will procure
you the forgiveness Of merciful and be-
ne6cent God
"'I do trust so,' replied the dying man ;
but would add restitution to contrition.
Now, would you, my dear sir, help me in
Al :. 6.wx Ala .oa...e ...l I