The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-11-03

she lay sobbing Historically in his
arms.
1t was Robert Whitnall-Robert him
self, in very deed and truth. But l
hardly believed it for some minutes.
The children came rushing in pell,mell,
from Mrs. Sands, in delirious excite
ment.
:. Papa, papa how have you come to
life again ?"
For the captain had come to life at
his home also, and told the news to our
children.
{" have been all the way to Harlin-
gen." said Mr.. Whitnall. "Surely you
did not think | was dead all this
while I"
Without an explanation we wondered
how we were to have thought other
wise. He gave it in few words.
They had been in danger of perish
ing in that frail yacht of Captain Sands.
The wind rose suddenly preventing
their return shore; it increased to a
fearful gale; and even the experienced
seaman found that for once he could
not manage his favorite Margaret Ann.
A steamer, going down the channel on
her way to Harrington, saved them, but
the yacht had to be abandoned to her
fate. What that fate was the plank had
proved to us. The steamer was like
wise caught by the gale, and consider
ably delayed by it out at sea, but she
made Harlingen at last.
But why did you not write us,
Robert ?" l asked, breathlessly, while
hav Ton kola Il ~ oil Ne
cheeks.
81 did write, Dorothy. The first
thing / and Captain Sand did on getting
into port was to write letter each.
know they were posted, and l cannot
understand how it is you have not re-
ceived them"
But, papa, what a long while you
and he must have stayed at Harlin-
gen p
ave had to wait the steamers pleas
ure, Alex, my boy. Until that left, we
were fixtures. But / never supposed
you were living without news of u.s."
Dorothy, how can we ever be suffi-
GENTLY thankfulY' whispered Mrs.
Whitnall, looking at me through her
glistening eyes.
That night he chose the self-same
psalm to read that his wife had chosen
the night we were watching for him.
He sat with the prayer-book on his
knee:
"They that 60 down to the sea in
ships and occupy their business in
great waters these men see the works
of the Lord and his wonders in the
deep. For at His word the stormy wind
ariseth which lifteth up the waves
thereof. They are carried up to the
heaven, and down again to the deep
their soul melteth away because of the
trouble. They reel to and fro, and
stagger like drunken man and are at
their wits end. So when they cry unto
the Lord in their trouble: He deliver
eth them out of their distress. For He
maketh the storm to cease so that the
waves thereof are still. Then are they
glad because they are at rest; and so
he bringeth them unto the haven where
they would be. o that man would
therefore praise the Lord for his good
ness and declare the wonders that he
doeth for the children of men ~
When the psalm was at an end he did
not close the book as usual but sat
looking down at it rather closely, as if
the candles did not give enough light.
"Children," he began very softly,
lifting his eyes, 81 have read, and
heard that psalm read, very often, but
never with the feelings that will here
after attach to it, When was in that
dreadful peril, the sea raging around
me, the frail boat tossed aloft on it,
these selfsame words flashed across my
mind, and I-even I, poor, weak, sinful
man that 1 am-dared to cry aloud to
the Lord to save me. | cried it with
my whole heart, and soul, and trust"
"And He heard you, papa. He saved
you" -Sunday Magazine.