The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-01-18
BLOOMSBURY, PA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 49, 1867

hearts as they heard them, and many a
prayer stole up through the black sky
and gained the ear of the Unseen. When
the morning sun broke bravely through
the drifting clouds, there was heartfelt
shout of Thanksgiving to see the toilers
of the night come safely into harbor.
Huge were the breakfasts eaten, sound
was the sleep that followed, for it had
been hard battle between man and
the elements.
Later in the day knot of men were
lounging on the shore. Where's The
'Sducy Jack ?" asked one. can't Joe
Barton turned up yet? said another.
While old Murtoch, the patriarch of the
group, mumbled out "She aint drawed
up, she aint at anchor; Pm blessed if
l don't think she's gone down head first.
This inaugurated II coversation about
Joe, and various and singular were the
reasons given for his continued absence
While they were engaged in this dis
cussion man, bareheaded and breath
less, rushed frantically down over the
pebbles, his facepal as death, his eyes
almost staring out of his head. When
he reached the group, he stopped and re-
manned speechless. "Hullo, Silas,
what's wrong, lad?" inquired one. You
look dazed, man." said another.
"The Bank" he whispered hoarsely.
"Well, what of the Bank ?" asked
old Murtoch, impatiently.
"1t's broke" he gasped, and then,
without vouchsaIeing any further infor-
nation, rushed away as quickly as he
had come. The news he brought fell
like a thunderbolt in the midst of those
to whom he told it they seemed stun
ned for Il moment, and then fastened
up to the town to find if he had spoken
the truth.
Alas! it was but too true: the Coun-
ty Bank being unable to meet a run up
on its resources on the previous day at
the chief market town, where its head
office was, had been compelled to stop
payment, and close all its branch estab-
lishments. Considerable assets, howev-
er, were expected, the number of share
holders being amply sufficient to cover
all liabilities. 1t was some time before
the Yarmouth fishermen could be made
to unde rstand that, if they We're only
patient, they would have nearly all
their money back. They stood in q
body outside the Bank door till the
darkness took them home worn out and
sad at heart to bed. There went out
no boats that night from Yarmouth to
fish.
The morning following the day on
which the Yarmouth Bank had stopped,
boat was seen some distance out max.
| ing its way for the shore as well as ii
could with a broken mast and a ragged
sail. All eyes were strained towards
it. Whose could it be? Where was it
coming from? Old Murtoch, shading
his eye with his hand, gazed silently
out over the watery space. Then in a
moment he dropped his arm eXclaim-
ing, "Wcll, bless my heart, if it aint
The ,Sducy Jack, with Joe and the kid
aboard" Immense was the astonish-
ment; some said sit couldn't be-" but
by-and-bye, sure enough she glided in
past the pierhead, Joe at the tiller,
and Johnny making himself useful in
hauling in the sails. They both looked
pale and weary, but the shout of well
come with which they were received
lit up both their faces pleasantly. When
Tie !Sdncy Jack had teen made fast,
Joe and iii boy came ashore. All were
eager to tell him the news, but none
liked to, for l. was well known that he
was large shareholder in the bank.
But he seemed to understand their
whispering, and taking Johnny's hand,
he merely said quietly, 81 know all
about it. It's been and ruined me, but
that's neither here nor there" and then
moved Off towards home. But ere he
had gone many steps he took Johnny
up in his arms, crutch and all, and car
ried him home and up to his bed in his
own tiny room. lie would not un-
dress him, for already was the poor lit
tie man in deep slumber, but laying
him down tenderly on the outside of
the counterpanc, that great, strong man
fell on his knees, and with his face rest
ing on the hands of his sleeping child,
thus remained for long, long time.
What he thought, what he prayed,
what thanksgiving burst from his very
soul only the Book wherein his life is
written can reveal. 1t was one Of those
times in the existence of a man when
the days that are gone are lived over
again, and the lessons that they have
taught are appreciated. Then the
clouds roll back, the dawn breaks with
promise of fine weather, and he nerves
himself anew to face the future, bring
| it sunshine or storm. Thus taking
courage, Joe Barton raised himselffrom
his knees, no longer the craven and
coward, afraid to meet the ills of life,
but ready to grin and bear them. He
was an altered man. And who had
been the mysterious agent in the hand
of Providence that had wrought his re-
formation? His poor, little, deformed
child, who through the night of storm
and danger had been near him with IL
on heart and dauntless courage, who
had taught him that mercy is extended
even unto him who would take his own
| life.
a few words more. Years passed on,
the expected call had been made by the
| Rink and Lne,s goods and chattels