The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-08-09

Mother, you will Let me 90 y
terrible storm 10 sweeping across the
wild coast Of North Devonshirs. The
plymouth lifs-boat is prepared to take
its way to foreign vessel, which, at some
short distance from the land, Is showing
signs of dire Distress. The hfe-boat crew
u complete, with the exception of one man.
Young Carew, q plymouth fisher-lAd and an
expert sailor, il offering to Gil the vacant
place. But first he bends down gently to
woman, who stands beside him ON the
dreary shore, and it il bis clear, brave
voice that we b aar above the raging Of the
storm.
Mother, you K let me got"
The mother has >en q widow only six
short months. Her husband was . fisher
man he put out one bright day last spring
for the last time, in his ANAL Hshins- boat,
upon . delusively calm sea- A sudden
squat came on broken fragments Of the
boat were seen next day ON the beach, but
the fisherman returned no more to home
and love. And now the son asks permits
sion to brave the horrors Of that sea which
his father found 80 pitiless.
A tlexce, passionate refusal rose to the
womAn's lips. But her sad eyes move
slowly toward the distressed vessel she
thinks of the many loved lives in jeopardy
within it, thinks, with . sudden pang Of
agonized pity, of many distant, dear homes
in peril of bereavement abe turns to the
boy, and her voice 10 calm and courageous
as his own 60
"Go, my son. And may God Almighty
90 with you, and bring you safe back to
your mothers heart p
Hurriedly she leaves the beach, hur-
riedly seeks her desolate home, and alone
she wrestlea with the pain of her old sor-
row and her new fear
Morning dAwns again. The storm has
spent itself. SullenlY. the waves are toss
ing their naughty heads, but the seas
worst fury is over at last.
A gallant vessel has gone down upon the
waters, but the plymouth hfe-boat has
nobly fulfilled its noble task, and all
hands on board the vessel have been saved.
Why does Will CArew hnger in hesita-
ton outside his mothers door Bravest
of the brave he has shown himself through
out the night. Why ioes he shrink from
the heart de2rest TO his own2
Beside MIN stands tall, worn man q
man whom he has rescued from . watery
grave q man whose eyes, full of deep
tenderness, never leaves his own. Around
the two throng plymouth villagers many
hands are thrust towards the men in happy
recognition.
who will dare to tell her r. So speaks
voice well nigh choked with strong emo
ton
~ will - And Will Carew makes his
way through the awe-struck crowd. An.
other moment and he in in his mother.
arms. He feels ard knows for the first
time, the whole depth of that wondrous
maternal love, which Love Omnipitent ha,
chosen as its best earthly token.
Mother, listen. ] have . tale fol
your ears. May God teach me how to tel
it right. One of the men saved last night
was plymouth fisherman" The boy'l
voice is soft and grave, but it is evident
that he steadies it only with strong effort
"A fearful storm had overtaken him upor
the sea, one day, not many months ago
He was observed and saved by foreign
vessel. The vessel was outwardbound
Away from home, from wife, from kindred
the man was forced to sail and by wife
and kindred he was mourned as dead. He
arrived at the vessels destined port, only
to set sail again with the first ship bound
for England. Last night he found him
self within sight of home but a wild storm
was raging on land and sea, and once more
the man stood face to face with q terrible
death. Help came in his need help,
God-sent, God-directed And"
The boy breaks down now. On his
knees, by his mothers feet, he clasps her
hands convulsively in his, and his voice
comes only through thick sobs -
Mother, darling, try to bear the happy
truth When your brave heart, heart
which, in the midst of its own sorrow,
could feel for the sorrow Of Others, sent
me forth last night to the succor of the dis
tressed, you knew not-how should you
know that you sent me to the rescue of
my dear fathers life. God gave him to
me. God has gwen him, mother, back to
orr grateful love"
Not another word was spoken Locked
in each others arms, mother and son pour
out their hearts in food of unspeakable
happy tears.
A step is heard the rescued man stands
by his own freside, remembering, with
profound emotion. that his place there has
been won for him by the skill and courage
If his SON
With wild cry Of joy the mother rushes
forward, and her head finds its long lost
place upon her husbands breast.
All Love, supreme, unutterabls |!
Strange, indeed, are the paths through
which Thy Divine Wisdom leads thy chill
dren to pure happiness In mute rever-
ence we bow before the mighty Tenderness,
which crowns and blesses earthly love-
Annette CdlthrOp in The Peoples Magazine