New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-21
The Old Fisherman,s Story.

A little bright-faced boy just put a mattel
to the kindiing wood of the CRATE, and was
watching the flame as it forced its way
among the cracking Goals, when, half il
thought and half aloud, he said, "Who
would think little match would make sc
big fire."
"Ah, yes, my little man." said his father,
"a little match, like other little things, may
do great good or great harm. A good apos
tie once said, Behold how great matter a
little fire kindleth.' And now, as our fire
is burning l will tell you story about a
little match and the good that it did"
Far away down on the shore of the
Bristol Channel stands small fisherman
cabin. 1t is just far enough from the water
to be out of the reach of the great waves
that come rolling in from the Irish Channel;
and near it is creek. or little river, in
which the fisherman used to shelter his
boat. At the time of my story the man
happened to have left his little cabin, and
gone to Tenby. 1t was market day there,
and as the weather was rough and win:ry,
he had stayed away from home. 1t was
desolate and dreary about that little house
on the cold December day of which | am
speaking. A dull, leaden sky; cold, keen
blast. sweeping up clouds of sand along the
shore the moaning of the sea birds, and
the regular beat of the waves upon the
shore formed the total of the sights and
sounds on the coast that day.
"a strong wind had been blowing for
three days, and ali who thought of the
sailor at sea prayed to God to keep him
from its dangers. A good brig had just
made the entrance of the channel and was
beating up toward Bristol. She had cap
tain, mate and ak sailors for her crew.
Their voyage had been pleasant one, and
was now nearly over. They were thinking
of their homes and friends when the fierce
storm came on. The rigging was stiff with
ice, and it was hard to handle the ropes or
manage the ship. The men did their duty
as all true English sailors do; but it was in
vain. The winds, and the waves, and the
bitter cold were too strong for them, brave
as they were, and carried the brig steadily
toward the shore. Soon they heard a
sound terrible to seamen; it was the noise
of the breakers. The captain called all
hands about him. and raised his voice in
prayer. He prayed for their safety. if God
so willed it, that they might have strength
to meet the fierce waves, and that, ii they
could not be saved from shpwreck, they
might be safe in the mercy Of God
THE brig soon struck, and as she lay
with her side to the shore, the water for
little space was so calm that the small boat
was safely launched. and every man seated
in it. But. alasl before they could reach
the shore great wave struck the little
boat, and the poor men were cast into the
boiling sea. Four of them, with the cap.
tain, reached the land, and though scarcely
able to meve, dragged themselves forward
to shelter They raised a shout when they
came in sight of the little cabin; but alas.
there was creek between it and them.
we must go through or die said the cap
tain; and after great struggle, in their
tired state, they reached the other side; but
the brave captain could go no further
Leave me, my men, said he; get help for
yourselves, and then come back, if you
can The men reached the house, bat
were Mortified to find it empty. One man
only took heart as he looked at the fireplace
and the wood near it. But alas! there was
neither flint nor steel to strike light.
"a moment he stood in agony; but as he
raised his head, he saw upon the rude
mantle small box marked matches With
trem bling haste he seized it, and found one
single little match. Oh. how much depended
on that little match. Here we're four sailors;
a little way off lay their brave captain. All
their lives depended, one might say, on that
match. With trembling hand and a silent
prayer he Grew the match; and, as the little
feeble flame broke out, Thank GOdn burst
from the men.
''They soon managed to make the wood
catch fire: and as the bright blaze shot up,
the glare brought relief to the poor captain,
who lay on the beach too weak to crawl.
"The feeling that now he should be saved
helped to keep in alive. When the sailors
came to where he lay he was nearly gone;
but they carried him in, and gradually he
revived,
Remember how much good a thing that
seems so insignificant as a match can do"
Christian Leader