The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-06-22

bIIStl SOuItA bt SCbS St11 1AdFI1tSS bSGn DIOHL
from the bolt ropes in the vain attempt
to lay the vessel to. The staFboard an
chor was out, while the dangling end of
the larboad cable told plainly that its
anchor had gone but the remaining one
did no good, for it had no power against
the gigantic strength of the driving
wind.
The beacon light had gone out, and
for a short time the old man stood
undecided what to do. In ten minutes,
at the farthest, the brig must strike the
rocks, and then-LOrd have mercy on
the crew! - .a-,
&c The poor fellows shall have the
risk OF my life at any rate" exclaimed
gy, as he daTted from the rock and made
toward the house. Hannah" he
cried, as he reached the doorstep, upon
which his wife and daughter were
standing, " run to the bOat-hOuse, and
bring the new harpOon line. Quick,
now, for in a few minutes more it may
be too late !" H. t.s.1
" But you surely are not going to ven
tHre OutW s4.....~ ...
i" Venture ?" interrupted the old man,
as his wife began to remOnstrate, while
Hannah was gone after the line. There
are human beings there whose dives are
IN danger, and, as [ hope for salvation
hereafter, I'll labor for their salvation
there came voice, born upon the roar
| ing wind, that said, "Save them !"
But your own life-dO not throw it
away" urged the old wOmans
Then come down and help save it"
returned the old and determined man.
Il want you and Hannah to follow me
| quickly. Come" he continued, as his
daughter arrived with the line, bun
die mp and come along"
The mother and daughter lost no time
IN obeying the old mans mandate, for
they had bold hearts as well as he but
twas for him they feared more than
themselves. The sight of the devoted
brig, however, which was now lashed
ing rocks, took away all thought for
themselves, and with quiekened step
they hastened to the shore. There
must be prayers there, but these were
for the ear of one who commands the
tempest, and He never fails to hear.
The brig was setting in directly
upon a large reef, just to the south
ward of the cliff, and further to the
south of which, still, there was a kind
OF opening, several rods in width, which
made i'll from the sea up to the beach.
Bidding his wife and daughter take the
end of the line, and be ready to haul in
whenever they felt a strong pull upon
| 1t, the old man started over the reef.
From rock to rock he clambe1ed, and,
but for his intimate knowledge of every
crack and jut, he must have been washed
OFF ere he got half way out; but he
struggled ON, and ere long he was upon
the outer extremity of the reef.
On came the bfig-nearer and nearer
to the place of her destIuctiOn-anda at
last she struck. Again and again did
her heavy stern dash against the rocks,
and at length, as she lifted upon dash
ing swell, she came down for the last
time With fearful crash, her tim
bers We're rent astIndef, and thein- n-fated
brig had found her grave.
That sturdy old watcher upon the
rocks saw the struggling forms of the
crew, as they grasped the shattering
fragments for support, and with an
eagle eye he watched for his OppOrtuni-
ty to render his aid. At length it came.
Two men, who were on the bows after
the brig had first struck, had secured
themselves to piece of the bent, which
had split from the cutWater to the for
ward chain-plates, and together they
were struggling with the waves but
alone they could not have saved them
selves, for they were being dashed past
the point of the reef upon the cragged
rocks beyond.
Now or neEer!n shouted the old man
as the piece of wreck was Wllirling past
and, with q fervent g Heaven HELM me y
he leaped from the rock.
/ His feet struck the floating mass Just
as it was curling over broken wave
and, falling quickly upon his breast, he
grasped the lashing of the two men, and
then braced himself for the issue. The
srging of the wreck gave the required
!. pull upon the line which was dashed
around his body, and in moment more
the heroic women ON shore were pul,
ling with all their might. Each time, al
Il the soul -freighted piece of wreck settled
into the trough of the sea, did it tend
nearer the open space toward the cleal
shore and, at the end of fifteen minutes
it grated upon the smooth sand.
By the time the raft had reached the
shore, several fishermen, who heard fht
signal guns, arrived upon the spot /; and
more dead than alive, the three men
the savior and the saved-were taken
to the e0asamanis cot, where a warm
fire and careful attention soon restored
them to animation. Old Storms Was
the first to return to consciousness !; and
as he saw the two men whom he ha6
saved moving with life, he fell upon hit
knees and thanked God that he ha6
done his duty.
Il Buthe finished not his prayer; for, al
the first tones OF his voice sounded
through the room, the younger of tila
two men whom he had saved sprans
from his half unconscious state, anf
gazed about him. For @ moment ht
i gazed, and then, tottering forward tx
where the old man knelt, he fell forward
upon thataged bos0m, and nlflTInePed
Father, fafher-oh, my dear fathera
The mother and daughter knel
by the father and son, and to
d gether their almost bursting hearts sem
forth their thank lHiRg.
81 The clock struck 12 The old yea
had gone Around the blaZing fir
Il were drawn the chairs, but they were al
filled, and the restored Robert telG
the manner in which he was saved II
the Indian ocean six years before.
The new year had daWned, an(
though some lived not to see it, ye
within that humble cot all was cain
/ and peaceful joy,
III The doctrine OF equality, which ha
j produced 80 many high and notable
] qualities in Ameriean character, has als'
] very unfortunately developed spirit q
. imitation, which is not only ridiculous
J but very often etlpable. The seTvan
} maid erstanding that she is as he
! mistress, only not as rich, determines Il
z dress as well In appearance IT not IN re
: aIity. If her mistress has camel's hal
j shawl, Bridget spends a years. saving
4 IN an imitation made aH Paisley.