Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-12-08
THE NOBLE FISHERMAN.
TRANSLATED PROM THE FRENCH.

On the 18th of April. 1928, shallop
was drifting in the North Seq, at the mercy
of the wind and waves, which threatened
every moment to overw helm it, 4 woman,
two children and sailor. were alone on the
waters in this frail craft. The woman, wrap
ped in a large cloak, under the shelter of
which she Rugged her children to her heart,
alterna,el; wept aud prayed. The sailor,
having for long time struggled against the
teDpest, and endeavorcd in vain to urge for
ward the shallop in his charge, had closed
his arms on his breast, and waited in sullen
silence the death which seemed inevitable
Through the thick mist his practic4d eye at
length saw hope. Land Land!" he shout
ed and retakirg his oars, piled them with
new vigor
Vain HIS exhausted strength could sur
mount no rebuff, even with apparent safety
IN his reach. His struggles to gain the
shore seemed but to Iengthe1 the distance
between the boat and the strand. At length
lie again abandoned his hopeless struggle.
The quick eye of the mother detected his
purpose, as he relieved his person Of his
heavier garments. You will not abandon
my children to perish - she cried
The sailor looked wistfully at the unhap-
py sufferers. He measured the distance TO
the shore with his eye, and looked over the
boat : side, to the waters, which, here par
italy sheltered, seemed to boil like yeast in
a caldron, the receding tide combating the
furious gale. To save one Of those helpless
ones was impossible. He ventured on no
word of advice or consolation, lest his mer-
cy should master his Judgment, but while
the mother yet hoped-while she leaned
forward with lips apart, and eyes pressing
from their sockets TO catch a word, sigh, a
breath in answer. be cut all short by plung-
ing suddenly into the sea.
The boat reccd and shivered under the
momentum given it by the sailors plunge,
but He who holds the waters in the hollow
Of his hand, watched over the forsaken.
The mother c'asped her little ones closer to
her breast, and raised her eyes to heaven in
an agony Of prayer too earnest to wait for
words. Her face spoke an appeal from
which Abaddon's self could not have turn
ed compassionloss. The wave she feared
was just about to whelm her, was broken in
the crest by the strange weight it bore-and
as It's waters neared hcr--a sulien-an un-
earthly sound broke on her quick ear, and
the spray which few across her face came
bloodstaned. The dcad Jol.y Of the saiio,
,cho had deserted her, bumped an instant
against the boats side, and then drifted
away from the sight Of mortal man forever
He had struck upon the sharp points OF
rocks beneath the surface, and escaped the
lingering death to which he thought he had
lett his companions, by sudden and awlu
plunge into the presence Of his Maker.
In another instant the deserted woman
felt a strange sound beneath her feet. The
boat was grating on the sand. Another
bound before the wave ard it was fast She
sounded the water with her arm, and to heI
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 little distance Tho
water deepened as she proceeded-to hen
waist-to her throat-she staggered-and
the sitting 'bubbling cry Of her children
nerved her with new strength. An almost
superhuman spring, and she was SAFE again
and anon she recoiled, as the earth seem.
ed to sink under her feet, and another foot,
step would have plunged her into an abyss,
in the very sight of safety. The agony Of
fcar-the strength of despair - the light
ming of hope-each siezed her by turns, til
at length in u deliriGm Of joy, she left the
sea behind her, having escaped its last en-
guIphing wave-and falling on her face in
the damp sand, she poured out her soul in
gratitude to the God who had delivered her
and her little ones.
She rose, shudderirg with cold now that
the struggle was over. Her children quiv
ering 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 eyes
wandered in vain for help, the cold sky, the
lashing wave, the barren sand, mocked the
hopes of the mother for comfort or safety.
4 reaction of feeling lad taken place-her
heart was sinking within her.
y voice Again and nearer A man
upon the rocks earnestly bcckoning, as if
some new and iminent danger beset the fu-
gitives from death. She saw no more, but
sank insensible upon the sand and her
children sent up a piercing wall beside her.
Unerring instinct! They did not shrek thus
wheE she sank down to pray
Another moment, and the man who shout
ed the warning is beside the shipwrecked
mother.
His hardy wife attends him. She has