Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-03-02

to leap into it before. behind. broadside,
but at every point strong hands and stead
fast eyes met it unflinchingly.
Not word was spoken until furlong
lay between the life boat and the ship
Then a tall. strong form arose in the boat,
put his hands one on either side of his
face, to keep out the binding spray, and
scanned the burrows around. "Pull away
my boys. Hos afloat. he's afoat!"
There was joy in the shrek he gave
l think the tones must have reached poor
Finley's drowning hearing. for something
neryed him for few strokes more. The
lifeboat is near, not fly feet of waves be-
tween. Keep afoat moment more; help
is near, o 60 near! The moon darted
within cloud, unwilling to look upon the
scene. Again the form arose in the life
boat. it gasped out, "Hc's gone"
The oars were uplifted. The boat was
at the mercy Of the meroiless sea. Every
eye was scanning the up-heaying waters.
The moon glanced out. Then dashed BY
them an up-turned face, white and still,
with eyes that were strained in vision on
something more than sea or sky. What
they saw we know not. There was a
young sailor in the life-boat who was not
hidden there. Death at sea! A man
overheard were new cries to him.
He saw the man go by. Don't don't
leave him here. he will sink in a moment.
We are so near home. let US bury him on
the Shore
Again the oars battled with the sea
The men had gladly perled their lives
for their friend, bnt this dead man at sea,
from it they recoiled. 1t was the Young
sailor who met the outstretched hand, who
drew it near the boat, who lifted the drip
ping head from its restless pillow. The
waves made a mighty effort for their prey.
hut it was snatched from them. Carl
Finley lay in the boat, and the oars beat
shipward. The Blue Wave received its
own With shouts of welcome the sailor
boys lifted the life-boat on dech.
,,IIe Is dead.' whispered the tall sailor.
as hands were outstrctched to receive Carl
Finley.
Revcrently, amid the tempest. they
laid him down in the Blue Wave. The
captain scanned closely the familiar fea-
lures by lantern light. He ordered n hot
bath and restoratiyes. The men looked
at him as they would have done had he
ordered them to throw man overheard
Only one was ready to obey without a
moments delay.-Long and tenderly the
young sailor boy who had loved Carl Fin
ley. tried to restore him. Patiently he
rubbed the lifcless hands. Patiently he
watched for one motion from the silent
heart others looked on and murnurcd of
disturbing the peace of the dead.
4 something, u shadow The flame in
the lantern must havr flckercd The
captain. in spite of the storm. looked IN ::
the sailor hoy kneelcd down close to the
face of Carl Finley. Only a shadow. but
it caused the hearts Of on-lnokers to stand
still an instant. for it told that the death
current going out, had met the life tide
coming in. Steadily, slowly it arose, com
ing in across the bar Hat separates life
and death, as steadily as arose the storm
Ficrcrly it blew as the night wore on.
Sounding after sounding told that the
good ship Bus Wave WAS drawing inland
1t was known in the cabin that Carl
Finley had been lost md found, ANA for
while the storm Of terror had been still
cd, but as the ship rolled Yet more and
more it returned. Mrs. Willard never for
monent lost her calmness OF mind or
manner. ii death was just before her
she wished it might find her doing what
she could to lead others to the firm faith
that was her own. To this end she spoke
words Of comfort, whcrewith she was com
forted, to others.
"lou believe in God, bnt | don't and
where shall go to !" cried a woman who.
until that instant, had kept profound
silence.
"Don't You believe in Cod" said Daisy
"Why, you must believe in Him, that is
his storm, and His ocean,
May he, child. lie is your God. but
He isn't mine. I've never loved Him. I've
only loved my husband and Jamie.
never did anything for God, why should he
save me -
"He saved you great while ago, when
Christ came and died. and for the first
time Daisy felt how sweet it must be
Jesus. "lou must believe this" she
urged,
80 wish could, wish could"
"Why can't you, when it is true Nam
ma, cried Daisy. edo come and tell this
woman the story of Jesus: quick, for she
don't believe me, and it would be SO dread
full to be lost and lot know it,"
"Pray far my husband and jamie"
said the loving wife to Mrs. Willard, who
who followe ed Daisy's call
II will" was the reply, and willis: the
ship rolled wildly in the very breakers,
Mrs. Willard sat at the woman's side and
told the sacrifice of Jesus told it so loving
". told it as one speaks of their heart $
best loved one that the woman was NOV
ed to murmur, "WhO is this Jesus that
you love SO :"
"He is your friend and mine, waiting
beyond this ship and this storm, waiting
with open arms to save You if you will but
trust him.
"OIwill. will'' burst from her lips
out of the fullness of her heart.
There came out of the fullness of the
sea dull, leadcn sound, out of the trum-
net on deck, "Breakers ahead Keep her
off. A rock, rock ," On went the ship.
The rock stood still, as at the creation, to
receive it. No hand could save. 1t tstruck,
turned, righted, and went on again. The
morning came up from the east to witness
the scene. In the distance lay the old
mainland, full of warm hearts, aching
hearts, and waiting homes, and there, fast
on the rock, lay the brave Blue Wave,
come many league to find its rocky
grave, for the deadly ledge had riven its
heart.
I'VE will try for the shore" said the
tall sailor who had gone to save Carl Fin
ley. To send the lite-bQat out. seemed to
call ON the hccakers tp sMamp il: but il